GIFT  OF 
Wrs.  Dorothy  Sheldon  Scott 


// 


THE    IMPERIAL    GUARD 


J.  T.  HEADLEY'S  WORKS. 


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THE 


IMPERIAL   GUARD 


OF 


NAPOLEON 


From  Marengo  to  IVaterloo 


J.   T.   HEADLEY 


NEW   YORK 

CHARLES  SCRIBNER'S  SONS 

1892 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1851,  by 

J.   T.   HEADLEY 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Southern 

District  of  New  York 


Copyright,  1888,  by 
CHARLES    SCRIBNER'S   SONS 


GIFT 


TROW'8 

PRINTING  AND  BOOKBINDING  COMPANY, 

NEW  YORK. 


1  9e^ 


INTRODUCTION. 


Gkeat  revolutions  develop  great  military  leaders, 
in  whose  single  person  seems  to  centre  the  destiny  of 
the  struggle.  In  their  rapid  advance  to  power,  there 
is  usually  developed,  also,  a  military  body  distin- 
guished for  its  invincibility,  in  whose  keeping  the 
fate  of  the  leader  seems  especially  to  be  placed. 
Thus,  in  the  first  civil  war  of  England,  Cromwell 
suddenly  vaulted  to  power  from  the  obscurity  of  a 
country  farmer.  At  the  same  time  his  Ironsides,  al- 
though never  trained  in  military  schools — became  the 
most  terrible  body  of  cavalry  the  nation  had  ever 
known.  Bonaparte,  from  a  poor  lieutenant,  leaped 
almost  at  a  bound  to  the  head  of  an  empire.  With 
his  first  victories  commenced  the  organization  of  the 
corps  which  afterwards  became  the  Old  Guard,  an 
army  in  itself,  and  the  firmest  prop  of  his  throne. 
Victory  perched  with  its  eagles,  and  he  always  held 
it  in  reserve  till  the  last  decisive  moment  came. 
Again  and  again  he  flung  his  crown  into  its  invinci- 
ble squares,  and  saw  it  with  calm  confidence  carry 
his  empire  into  the  tossing  tides  of  battle. 


ivi625253 


vi  INTRODUCTION. 

The  Old  Guard  was  the  most  renowned  body  of 
soldiers  to  be  found  in  the  military  annals  of  the 
world.  It  was  no  less  distinguished  for  its  sobriety 
and  freedom  from  all  excesses,  its  self-respect,  than 
for  its  strict  discipline  and  invincible  courage.  On 
these  accounts  it  may  be  of  especial  service  to  us.  A 
great  name  is  never  acquired  by  a  body  of  troops  that 
is  not  distinguished  by  its  moral  qualities.  A  bril- 
liant charge  may  be  made  by  a  band  of  desperadoes, 
but  a  sustained  reputation  cannot  be  acquired  with- 
out moral  dignity. 

The  materials  for  this  work  were  mostly  collected 
in  the  preparation  of  my  "  I^apoleon  and  his  Mar- 
shals," and  hence  it  was  comparatively  an  easy  task 
to  arrange  them  in  a  connected  and  intelligible  form. 
At  first  sight  there  might  seem  to  be  a  good  deal  of 
repetition  of  scenes  described  in  that  work,  because 
reference  is  necessarily  made  to  them.  But  what  in 
the  former  work  is  a  mere  reference  made  to  give  a 
right  conception  of  a  battle  or  campaign,  in  this 
becomes  a  full  and  detailed  account.  In  the  former 
the  main  features  of  a  conflict  are  delineated,  and  the 
conduct  of  the  Guard  only  mentioned  incidentally, 
while  in  the  latter  the  battle-field  and  the  main 
operations  of  the  army  are  sketched  only  enough  to 
allow  the  introduction  of  the  Guard  upon  the  field. 
So  that  while  the  references  to  the  same  things  are 
constant,  the  details  are  entirely  different.  Two  or 
three  exceptions  to  this  remark  occur  in  the  present 


INTRODUCTION.  vii 

work,  but  I  thought  that  the  reader  in  these  cases 
would  prefer  a  repetition  to  a  hiatus  in  the  history 
of  the  Guard. 

The  facts  are  taken  from  a  variety  of  works  which 
I  need  not  here  enumerate.  The  statistics,  however, 
and  most  of  the  details  exhibiting  the  private  life,  if 
I  may  so  term  it,  of  the  Guard,  are  taken  from  a 
French  work  entitled  '' Histoire  Pojpulaire  de  la 
Garde  Iniperiale,  j^ar  Entile  Marco  de  Saint-Hi- 
laire.''^  It  is  a  large  work,  comprising  some  five  hun- 
dred closely  printed  pages.  I  should  have  given 
credit  to  it  in  the  body  of  my  work,  since  many 
scenes  are  in  fact  translations  condensed,  but  the  re- 
ferences would  have  been  endless.  I  have  used  it 
without  stint. 


CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  I. 

PAQl 

The  origin  of  the  Imperial  Guard— Plan  on  which  It  was  first  constituted — 
The  Consular  Guard  of  Napoleon  — The  Moral  Character  of  the  Old 
Guard. IJ 

CHAPTER  II. 


Marengo— The  bloody  baptism  of  the  Consular  Guard— Its  firmness— Bona- 
parte's eulogium  upon  it  after  the  battle— Lannes  made  commander— Changes 
Introduced— Anecdote  of  Lannes  and  Napoleon — Napoleon's  attack  on  long 
queues  and  long  hair— Shearing  of  the  Guard— Anger  of  the  officers  and  gen- 
erals—Distribution of  the  Legion  of  Honpr— Description  of  the  Mamelukes 
of  the  Guard. ----2t 


CHAPTER  III. 

Becommencement  of  the  War— The  Camp  of  Boulogne— The  Old  Guard  at 
Austerlitz— Meeting  of  the  Imperial  Guards  of  the  Czar  and  Napoleon— 
The  Guard  at  Jena— The  Velites — Young  Desherbiers — Habits  of  Napoleon 
in  campa'gn— His  Body  Guai-d- Presentation  of  the  Eagle  to  a  new  r^- 
mcnt.  .        • if 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


CVeation  of  a  legiinent  of  Polish  Lancers— The  Old  Gnard  at  Eylau- Cam- 
paign of  1807— Treaty  of  Tilsit— The  interview  of  Napoleon  with  Alexan- 
der—His influence  over  him— The  Old  Guard  in  Spain— Miraculous  de- 
spatch of  Napoleon  when  he  heard  of  the  confederacy  in  Germany  against 
him— His  rapid  ride.     --- 6( 


CHAPTER  V. 

Organization  of  the  Young  Guard— Campaign  of  1909— Extraordinary  exer- 
tions of  Napoleon— His  rapid  success— Bombarding  of  Vienna,  and  first 
courtship  of  Maria  Louisa— Disgrace  of  a  surgeon— The  Old  Guard  at  As- 
pern — Its  last  charge — Incident  showing  how  Napoleon  punished  the  least 
neglect  of  his  Guard— The  Guard  at  Wagram— Sublime  spectacle— Its  artil- 
lery heads  Macdcnald's  charge — Diflicurty  of  appreciating  the  conduct  of  the 
Guard.  ---. ... 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Marriage  of  Napoleon  to  Maria  Louisa— Augmentation  of  the  Old  Guard- 
Grand  review  of  the  Old  Guard  at  Paris— Touching  incident— The  brave 
drummer  and  General  Gros — Napoleon's  treatment  of  them — Secret  of  Na- 
poleon's influence  over  his  troops,  was  in  the  afiection  he  inspired— His  pro- 
digious memory — Conversation  with  the  Russian  Chamberlain. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Increase  jf  the  Guard— Birth  of  the  king  of  Eome— The  excitement  and  joy 
of  the  Parisians  at  the  event — Creation  of  the  pupils  of  the  Guard— Their 
review  in  presence  of  the  Old  Guard— Napoleon's  address  to  both— Anec- 
dote of  one  of  the  pupils.  The  pupils  in  service  to  the  young  king  of 
Eu>m& 109 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

tussian  Campaign— Sublime  spectacle  of  the  army  of  invasion— The  Old  Gnard 
at  Borodino — Gallant  Charge  and  death  of  Caulincourt — Strange  conduct 
of  Napoleon— The  Old  Guard  in  the  Kremlin— Anecdote  illustrating  its  hon- 
esty—It saves  the  chest  of  the  army  at  Beresina.  -       -       -  13 1 


CONTENIS.  XI 

PAOl 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Narrow  escape  of  Naj  oleon— Disorder  of  the  army  on  arriving  at  Smolensko 
— Firmness  of  the  Old  Guard — The  famine  in  the  city — Gloomy  departure — 
The  Guard  passing  a  Russian  battery— The  Old  Guard  at  Krasnoi— The  fall 
of  Minsk,  and  gloom  of  Napoleon— His  appeal  to  the  Old  Guard— His  joy  at 
Ney's  safety — The  Old  Guard  at  Beresina — Its  frozen  biyouacs — Anecdote 
of  an  officer — Departure  of  Napoleon  for  Paris,  and  the  breaking  up  of  the 
Guard — Last  dreadful  days.  -.--.--.-133 


CHAPTER  X. 

Reorganization  of  the  Army — Death  of  Bessieres — The  Old  Guard  at  Lutzen 
— Its  Last  Charge — Drouot;  his  character — Death  of  Duroc — Moiu-nful 
Scene  around  the  tent  of  Napoleon — The  Guard  in  Bohemia — Its  astonish- 
ing march  to  Dresden — Its  bravery — Napoleon  in  its  squares  on  the  battle- 
field—Tableau—The Old  Guard  at  Leipzio— The  retreat— Battle  of  Hanau 
won  by  the  Guard — It  leaves  forever  the  scene  of  its  achievements.  -       -      154 


CHAPTER  XL 

Napoleon  with  Europe  against  lum— Care  of  his  Guard— The  Guard  at  Ro- 
thiere — Captain  Ilauillet — Terrible  cross  march  to  attack  Blucher — Victory 
of  Champs  d'Aubert — ^The  Old  Guard  at  Montmirail — Its  victory — Its  pro- 
tracted marches  and  battles — Overthrow  of  Blucher— Return  of  the  Guard 
to  the  help  of  Victor  and  Oudinot — Its  last  battles  and  marches — Desertion 
of  Napoleon  by  his  friends  at  his  abdication — Faithfulness  of  the  Guard— 
The  parting  scene  at  Fontainbleau — The  Guard  by  the  side  of  its  foes — Its 
bearing  and  aspect ---184 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Its  bearing  towards  its  foes — Its  anger  at  losing  its  colors— Tlie  Old  Guard  at 
Elba — Napoleon's  habits — Anecdotes  illustrating  the  discontent  of  the  troops 
in  their  exile — Their  return  to  France  and  march  to  Paris — Reception  of  the 
Guard— Last  charge  at  Waterloo. -28T 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

iUge  of  the  Guard  at  the  surrender  of  Paris— Is  disbanded— Part  come  to 
America — Champ  d'Asile  in  Texas — Last  of  the  Guards — Tomb  of  Napo- 
leon.       251 


XU  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


Revijw  of  the  dead — The  office  of  tho  French  Revolution — Who  is  responsi- 
ble for  the  wars  that  desolated  Europe  for  so  many  years— Bonaparte's  pol- 
icy as  general — As  First  CJonsul— His  offers  of  peace  rejected— England  vio- 
lates the  treaty  of  Amiens— Napoleon's  relation  to  the  free  States  he  had 
organized— Austria  violates  the  treaty  of  Presbourg- Invasion  of  Eussia— 
Treachery  of  Austria  and  Prussia— Fall  of  Napoleon — Campaign  of  Water- 

iM  la 


THE  OLD  GUARD. 


CHAPTER  I. 

The  Origin  of  the  Imperial  Guard— Plan  on  which  it  was  first  constitiited— Thi 
Consular  Guard  of  Napoleon— Its  Baptism  of  Blood  at  Marengo— The  Moral 
Character  of  the  Old  Guard, 

The  Imperial  Guard — or  as  it  is  more  familiarly 
known,  the  Old  Guard  of  Kapoleon,  is  as  much 
renowned  in  modern  as  the  Greek  Phalanx  was  in 
ancient  war.  "When  the  latter,  eight  or  sixteen 
thousand  strong,  shoulder  to  shoulder,  and  shield 
touching  shield,  moved  sixteen  deep  on  the  enemy, 
the  battle  was  over.  So  when  the  eagles  of  the  Old 
Guard  were  seen  advancing  through  the  smoke  of 
the  conflict,  the  result  was  no  longer  doubtful.  Its 
whole  history  is  an  illustration  of  the  moral  and 
physical  power  which  a  great  idea  imparts. 

Called  upon  only  in  great  emergencies,  it  came  to 
regard  itself  as  the  prop  of  the  empire.  When  its 
columns  were  ordered  to  move  to  the  attack,  every 


12  THE   OLD   GUARD 

soldier  knew  it  was  not  to  execute  a  manoeuvre,  or 
perform  a  subordinate  part  in  the  battle,  but  to 
march  where  the  struggle  was  deadliest,  and  the  fate 
of  the  army  was  to  be  decided.  He  knew,  too,  that 
over  the  dead  and  dying,  over  flaming  batteries,  and 
through  ranks  of  steel,  the  steady  battalions  were  to 
go.  The  bugle  was  never  to  sound  a  retreat  for  him, 
and  no  reserve  help  him  sustain  the  shock.  It  was 
the  consciousness  of  this  great  responsibility  that 
made  it  great  and  irresistible.  This  idea  alone  filled 
the  mind,  leaving  no  room  for  fear  of  death.  The  bear- 
skin caps  of  the  grenadiers  were  never  seen  advancing 
to  the  charge  without  causing  a  shout  from  the  whole 
army.  The  force  it  possessed  over  others  was  as 
much  moral  as  physical.  Beaten  troops  rallied  at  its 
approach,  and  despair  gave  way  to  confidence,  and 
the  cry  of  terror  was  changed  into  the  shout  of  victory. 
The  enemy  on  the  other  hand  when  they  saw  the 
deep  and  massive  columns  of  the  Guard  approach- 
ing, were  already  half  beaten.  The  prestige  of 
victory  that  went  with  its  eagles  paralyzed  their  arms, 
and  they  struggled  against  hope.  So  well  known 
was  it  when  they  were  ordered  up,  that  the  final  hour 
of  one  or  the  other  army  had  come,  that  the  contest 
along  the  different  portions  of  the  line  became  appa- 
rently of  no  account,  and  everything  waited  the  re- 
sult of  their  shock.  So  perfect  was  their  discipline, 
that  their  tread  was  unlike  that  of  other  regiments 


ITS    LOVE    FOE   NAPOLEON.  13 

while  the  consciousness  of  their  power  gave  a  gran- 
deur to  their  movements,  no  body  of  men  in  ancient 
or  modem  times  have  possessed.  Their  bivouac  at 
night  and  their  squares  in  position  on  the  battle-field, 
were  always  the  great  objects  of  interest,  for  they  en- 
folded the  emperor.  Napoleon  loved  them  devotedly, 
and  always  called  them  his  children.  They  never 
suffered  while  anything  was  to  be  had,  and  he  would 
listen  kindly  to  the  suit  of  the  meanest  soldier.  And 
well  did  they  deserve  his  love.  For  him,  they  knew 
no  weariness  or  pain.  His  presence  amid  them  com- 
pensated for  all  losses ;  and  at  his  voice,  and  for  his 
welfare,  they  would  move  steadily  and  cheerfully  on 
death.  The  care  he  took  of  them,  and  the  pride  he 
felt  in  them,  and  the  glory  with  which  he  covered 
them,  naturally  produced  a  strong  and  abiding  at- 
tachment. He  was  proud  of  their  appearance,  and 
always  gave  them  a  prominent  place  in  his  great 
exhibitions  at  Paris.  He  allowed  liberally  for 
the  expenditures  of  the  officers,  wishing  them  to  be 
dressed  magnificently,  although  habited  himself  in 
the  plainest  costume.  The  dress  of  the  drum-major  ot 
the  Foot  Grenadiers  alone  cost  $6000.  So  richly  work- 
ed in  gold  was  it,  that  in  1809,  when  the  Old  Guard 
made  its  triumphant  entry  into  Vienna,  the  ladies 
said,  that  the  drum-major  would  make  a  more  pro- 
fitable prisoner  than  Kapoleon.  Even  the  musicians 
and  surgeons  were  dressed  in  this  sumptuous  uniform. 


14  THE   OLD    GUARD. 

The  gorgeous  appearance  of  the  <ihief  officers  con* 
trasted  well  with  the  grave,  austeie  costume  of  the 
battalions  of  the  Guard.  When  in  front  of  their 
lines,  the  former  appeared  like  the  sparkling  foam 
and  crest  of  the  wave  that  swept  darkly  after. 

Napoleon  took  an  interest  in  everything  pertaining 
to  the  officers  of  his  Guard,  even  their  marriages. 
He  was  not  less  solicitous  they  should  be  good  citizens 
than  good  officers.  One  day,  Dorsenne  having  ex- 
pressed some  astonishment  at  this  paternal  solicitude, 
especially  in  regard  to  the  approaching  marriage  of 
an  officer,  Kapoleon  replied,  "  Are  you  not  all  lions  ? 
Yery  well,  it  is  important  the  race  should  not  perish. 
France  and  myself  will  have  need  of  new  claws  and 
new  teeth,  when  yours  can  no  longer  serve  us." 
The  same  interest  extended  to  the  children  of  those 
who  fell  in  battle.  They  were  provided  for  and  well 
educated.  Speaking  once  to  Davoust,  of  the  reluc- 
tance of  the  soldiers  of  the  Guard,  to  leave  it  even  for 
promotion  among  the  troops  of  the  line,  he  said,  "My 
old  soldiers  had  rather  eat  a  piece  of  bread  near  me, 
than  a  chicken  a  hundred  leagues  from  my  person.  It 
is  true  that  if  they  are  not  able  to  leave  me,  it  also 
gives  me  great  pain  to  part  from  them."  He  inquired 
into  the  wants  of  the  soldiers,  and  often  playfully 
asked  them,  "  My  grumblers,  are  you  in  want  of  any- 
thing ?"  The  uniform  answer  was  "  nothing."  The 
discipline  was  very  severe,  and  the  least  departure 


ITS  STRICT  disciplinp:.  15 

from  duty  was  visited  with  punishment.  It  was 
more  rigorous  than  in  the  army  of  the  line.  Napo- 
leon, had  said,  "  If  I  wished  only  intrepid  men,  I 
could  take  at  hazard. the  first  soldiers  in  the  army  I 
came  to,  but  I  desire  more,  I  want  good  conduct,  ma« 
rality  and  obedience,  and  this  I  find  difficult."  These 
words  were  often  commented  on  in  the  Guard,  and 
cases  of  punishment  were  rare.  Absence  when  the 
morning  roll  was  called  was  punished  with  two  days 
in  the  hall  of  police  ;  absence  at  the  evening  roll,  four 
days  in  the  hall  of  police,  and  eight  days  of  constant 
duty ;  sleeping  away  from  his  quarters,  fifteen  days 
in  the  hall  of  police,  and  a  month  of  constant  duty ; 
drunkenness  and  insubordination  brought  the  dun- 
geon, and  a  repetition  of  the  offence,  expulsion  from 
the  corps.  Even  wiien  out  of  their  barracks,  the 
hand  of  discipline  was  on  them.  They  were  forbid- 
den to  promenade  with  suspected  women,  and  haunt- 
ing bad  places  and  taverns.  They  were  not  allowed 
to  walk  in  the  Palais  Royal.  In  the  day-time  they 
might  cross  the  garden,  if  in  their  route,  but  in  the 
night,  never.  Their  amusements  naturally  took  a 
simple  and  innocent  direction,  their  manners  grew 
polite  and  affable,  so  that  they  became  examples  of 
good  behavior  in  the  midst  of  a  turbulent  population. 
Even  on  fete  days,  when  great  license  was  allowed, 
they  were  quiet  in  their  deportments,  and  subdued  in 
their  mirth,  as  though  it  became  them  who  held  so 


1ft  THE   OLD   GUARD. 

high  a  trust,  and  so  marked  a  position,  to  be  reserve(5 
and  composed.  Each  man  seemed  to  feel  that  the 
honor  of  the  whole  corps  was  entrusted  to  his  keeping. 
This  sentiment  and  thought  pervading  every  heart 
imparted  that  steady  valor  and  unwavering  constancy 
amid  the  dispirited  and  flying  army,  fast  perishing 
in  the  snows  of  Russia.  It  is  a  singular  fact,  that  for 
fourteen  years,  Napoleon  did  not  expel  a  single  officer 
of  any  grade  from  the  Guard. 

He  wished  it  to  be  an  example  to  the  rest  of  the 
army,  and  so  it  was  in  discipline,  obedience,  good  be- 
havior and  heroic  courage.  It  was  on  this  account 
that  a  duel  among  its  officers  always  threw  him  into 
a  great  rage,  as  indeed  a  duel  among  any  of  his  offi- 
cei'S.  During  the  campaign  in  Egypt,  Junot,  his  firat 
aid-de-camp  and  Lannes,  fought  a  bloody  duel,  in 
which  the  former  received  a  frightful  sabre  cut, 
which  well  nigh  sent  him  to  his  grave,  and  the  latter 
had  his  head  nearly  opened.  When  Desgenettes  in- 
formed l^apoleon  of  it,  he  was  furious.  "  What!"  he 
exclaimed,  "  do  they  wish  to  cut  each  other's  throats. 
They  have  been  among  the  reeds  of  the  Nile  to  dis- 
pute with  the  crocodiles  for  the  palm  of  ferocity,  and 
to  leave  to  them  the  corpse  of  him  who  should  bo 
be  slain?  Have  they  not  enough  of  the  Arabs  and 
the  plague  ?  They  deserve  that  I  should  call  them 
before  me,  and  that  *  *  *  *."  And  then  after 
a  moment  of  silence,  he  added,  "  No,  I  do  not  wish  to 


A  DUEL.  17 

see  them.     I  do  not  wish  any  one  even  to  speak  tc 
me  of  tliem." 

The  severe  manner  in  which  he  vented  his  displea- 
sure against  Filangieri,  the  godson  of  his  sister,  for 
killing  General  Franceschetti,  was  well  known,  and 
duels  after  a  while  became  of  rare  occurrence  among 
the  officers  of  the  Guard.  One  harmless  duel  ending 
in  a  farce  never  came  to  his  ears.  It  has  been 
j)ublislied  as  having  occurred  between  two  Spanish 
officers,  whereas,  the  true  heroes  of  it  were  two 
captains  of  the  horse  grenadiers  of  the  Guard. 
One  of  them  had  spoken  in  a  light,  joking  manner  to 
the  sister  of  the  other.  The  latter  demanded  that  an 
apology  should  be  made  to  her  in  presence  of  the  as- 
sembled family.  The  former  refused,  and  a  challenge 
was  the  consequence.  They  met  in  the  woods  of 
Boulogne,  and  had  already  drawn  their  swords,  when 
a  laboring  man,  till  then  unnoticed,  advanced,  and 
addressing  the  combatants  in  a  piteous  tone  said, 
''Alas  !  my  dear  officers,  I  am  a  poor  joiner  without 
work,  and  the  father  of  a  family."  "  Eh,  my  brave 
fellow,"  said  one  of  the  seconds,  "  retire,  this  is  no 
time  to  ask  for  alms  ;  do  you  not  see  that  these  gen- 
tlemen are  about  to  cut  each  other's  throats  ?"  "  It  is 
for  that  reason,  my  brave  officers,"  he  replied,  "  that 
I  have  come  to  ask  the  preference."  "What  pre- 
ference?" they  exclaimed.  "To  make  the  coffins  of 
these  two  gentlemen,  for  I  am  a  poor  join(.'r  without 


18  THK   OLD   GUARD. 

work,  aud  the  father  of  a  family."  At  these  words, 
the  two  antagonists  paused,  and  gazed  on  each  other 
a  moment,  then  burst  into  a  simultaneous  peal  of 
laughter.  Their  anger  was  over,  and  advancing,  they 
shook  hands,  and  then  retired  to  a  restaurant  to  finish 
their  quarrel  with  forks  over  a  well-covered  table. 

No  matter  who  was  the  victor  in  a  duel.  Napoleon 
always  punished  the  challenger.  "  A  duel,"  he  was 
wont  to  say,  "  is  no  indication  of  courage — it  is  the 
fury  of  a  cannibal." 

The  same  r4gor  was  shown  to  every  departure  from 
duty.  Thus  more  by  internal  regulations  than  out- 
ward forms,  did  he  gradually  perfect  the  charac- 
ter of  the  Guard.  By  visiting  with  displeasure  acts 
which  did  not  come  under  the  rules  of  military  dis- 
cipline, he  taught  them  to  curb  their  passions,  and 
show  an  example  of  uprightness  and  integrity  as  well 
as  bravery  to  the  army.  The  soldiers  of  it  received 
extra  pay,  and  especial  favors  were  lavisTied  on  them 
by  Napoleon.  This  he  knew  would  not  be  borne  by 
the  rest  of  the  army,  unless  deserved  not  only  by 
superior  service  but  a  higher  character.  Never 
pillaging  a  conquered  city,  or  giving  way  to  the 
license  of  a  common  soldier,  wliile  quartered  in 
it,  the  latter  naturally  regarded  tbem  as  superior — as 
occupying  a  rank  above  them,  akin  to  that  of  an  offi- 
cer. Napoleon  said,  he  would  not  be  disquieted  by 
the  conduct  of  soldiers  attached  to  his  person. 


ITS  MORAL  CHARACTER.  19 

So  strict  was  tlieir  integrity  and  so  nice  their  sense 
of  honor,  that  in  every  city  occupied  by  the  French 
troops,  they  left  more  or  less  grateful  recollections  of 
themselves  among  the  inhabitants.  Their  upright  de- 
portment and  conciliatory  behavior  were  remembered 
long  after;  for  on  J^apoleon's  final  abdication,  these 
veterans  distributed  themselves  over  the  world,  and 
received  kindnesses  from  the  very  countries  they  had 
swept  through  as  conquerors. 

So  in  garrison,  at  home,  instead  of  being  riotous 
and  quarrelsome,  they  prevented  quarrels  among  the 
citizens,  and  left  behind  them  the  esteem  and  good 
will  of  all. 

The  character  of  the  Old  Guard,  as  delineated 
above,  was  the  result  of  education  and  discipline.  It 
required  time  to  perfect  it,  but  after  it  was  formed  it 
distinguished  this  renowned  corps  to  the  last.  I  have 
been  thus  particular  in  describing  its  moral  qualities 
because  they  are  less  known — its  deeds  shall  illus- 
trate its  military  character. 

In  Bonaparte's  first  campaign  in  Italy,  he  had  sim- 
ply his  stafl:'  about  him.  In  Egypt,  a  corps  which  he 
named  guides^  acted  as  a  personal  guard,  most  of 
whom  returned  with  him  to  France,  at  length  became 
incorporated  in  the  Guard.  He  said  that  a  narrow 
escape  from  being  once  made  prisoner  in  Italy,  sug- 
gested to  him  the  organization  of  this  corps. 

A  national  and  imperial  Guard  have  been  common 


so  THE   OLD   GUARD. 

to  all  raonarchial  and  despotic  governments.  France 
had  the  former  during  the  revolution.  It  was  on  this 
Bonaparte  thundered  with  his  cannon,  when  he 
quelled  the  sections.  He  was  then  at  the  head  of  the 
(xuard  of  the  Convention,  a  corps  formed  to  protect 
that  body  from  the  violence  of  the  mob.  It  was  com- 
posed of  four  companies,  united  in  a  single  battalion, 
with  sappers,  drummers,  and  a  band  of  musicians ;  and 
numbered  at  fii-st,  officers  and  all,  but  five  hundred 
men.  In  it,  however,  were  the  young  Murat,  Lefe- 
bvre,  Guisard,  Monnet,  and  many  others  who  after- 
wards attained  high  rank  and  renown.  Robespieri-e, 
Couthon,  St.  Just,  and  others,  had  their  creatures  in 
the  ranks,  and  it  was  a  miserable,  inefficient  corps. 
After  the  death  of  the  former,  the  Convention  purged 
it  thoroughly  of  its  bad  members,  and  added  to  it 
men  of  a  different  stamp,  so  that  when  Bonaparte  put 
himself  at  its  head  to  quell  the  revolt  of  the  sections, 
he  found  it,  especially  the  grenadiers,  a  warlike  and 
well-disciplined  body  of  soldiers. 

After  the  overthrow  of  the  Convention,  and  the 
establishment  of  the  Directory,  the  Guard  of  the  Con- 
vention became  the  Guard  of  the  Executive  Directory. 
Ail  order  was  issued  fixing  its  number  at  a  hundred  and 
twenty  foot  soldiers,  and  a  hundred  and  twenty  cavalry. 
The  Directory  also  continued  the  work  of  purgation, 
and  incorporated  into  the  corps,  the  veterans  of  the 
Rhine,    Sambre-et-Meuse,    Pyrenees  and  Italy.    A 


ITS    ORIGIN. 


21 


severe  discipline  was  introduced,  and  soon,  under  the 
instructions  of  men,  who  had  learned  the  art  of  war 
on  the  field  of  battle,  became  one  of  the  finest  regi- 
ments of  the  army. 

When  Bonaparte  plotted  the  overthrow  of  the  Di- 
rectory, he  introduced  emissaries  into  the  Guard,  who 
ioon  worked  the  soldiers  over  to  the  interests  of  their 
future  master,  so  that  when  Moulin,  one  of  the  Direct- 
ors, endeavored  to  rouse  them  in  defence  of  the  govern- 
ment, they  quietly  remained  in  their  barracks.  On 
the  20th  Brumaire,  when  Bonaparte  was  saluted  First 
Consul  by  the  people,  he  went  to  the  Place 
du  Carrousel,  at  the  head  of  a  magnificent  staff*,  to 
review  the  regiments  that  formed  the  garrison  of 
Paris.  The  Guard  of  the  Directory  formed  the  right 
of  the  line  of  battle,  and  as  Bonaparte  halted  in  front 
of  it,  he  announced  that,  in  future  it  was  to  be  the 
"  Guard  of  the  Consuls."  Long  live  General  Bona- 
parte, rent  the  air  along  the  whole  line,  and  the  Im- 
perial Guard  was  horn. 

This  was. the  nucleus  of  the  Consular  Guard,  which 
in  the  end,  became  the  famed  Imperial  Guard,  wLose 
name  sent  terror  over  Europe.  The  change  that  imme 
diately  passed  over  this  corps,  was  indicative  of  the 
future  plans  of  its  chief.  From  two  companies,  com- 
prising 270  men,  it  was  raised  to  2089  men,  divided 
into  one  company  of  light  infantry;  two  battalions  of 
foot  grenadiers ;  one  company  of  horse  chasseurs ;  two 


22  THE    OLD    GUARD. 

squadrons  of  cavalry  ;  one  company  of  light  artillery 
of  which  a  third  was  mounted. 

It  may  be  of  interest  to  some  to  see  the  first  organi 
zation  of  this  famed  Guard : 


Staff  Officers  of  the  Commander  - 
Inferior  Officers  of  Infantry 
2  Battalions  of  Grenadiers 

1  Company  of  Chasseurs 
Superior  Officers  of  Cavalry 

2  Squadrons  of  Grenadiers 
Company  of  Horse  Chasseurs 

10  D.  of  Artillery    ... 


71 

17 

1,188 

99 

19 

468 

117 

110 

2,089 


Total,       - 

This  is  the  number  as  fixed  by  the  decree  of  the 
Consuls.  Only  a  small  i)ortion  of  these,  however, 
was  given  to  Consul  Bonaparte  as  General  of  the 
army. 

When  he  took  the  bold  resolution  to  make  the 
Tuileries  his  palace,  the  first  thing  he  did  in  the 
morning,  was  to  review  the  Consular  Guard,  and  the 
lialf  brigades,  which  were  still  in  barracks  in  Paris. 
Passing  through  their  ranks,  he  addressed  flattering 
words  to  the  chief  ofiicers  of  the  corps,  and  then  plac- 
ing himself  before  the  pavilion  of  the  clock,  with 
Murat  on  his  right  and  Lannes  on  his  left,  and  behind 
luia  a  numerous  staff  of  young  warriors,  bronzed 
by  the  sun  of  Italy  and  Egypt,  he  saw  the  troops  de- 
file before  him.  As  the  standards  of  the  96th,  43d 
and  30th  demi-brigades  saluted  him,  presenting  no- 


AN  INCIDENT.  23 

thing  but  shreds  of  banners  riddled  with  balls  and 
blackened  with  powder,  he  raised  his  chapeau,  and 
bowed  in  token  of  respect.  The  shout  that  followed 
rocked  the  old  palace  to  its  foundations.  The  troops' 
having  passed,  he  mounted  with  a  bold  step  the  stairs 
of  the  Tuileries,  that  none  but  a  king  ever  before  dared 
to  occupy.  It  was  a  hazardous  move  on  the  part  of 
the  young  chief  of  the  republic,  thus  to  foreshadow 
his  future  designs.  He  felt  it  to  be  such,  and  to  off- 
set this  assumption  of  regal  splendor,  a  few  days  after 
he  issued  the  following  decree  to  the  Consular  Guard, 
"  "Washington  is  dead !  This  great  man  has  fought 
against  tyranny,  and  consolidated  the  liberty  of  his 
country.  His  memory  will  always  be  dear  to  the 
French  people,  as  to  all  free  men  in  both  hemispheres, 
and  especially  to  the  French  soldiers,  who,  equally 
with  the  American  soldiers,  fight  for  liberty  and 
equality.  The  First  Consul,  therefore,  decrees  that 
for  ten  days  black  crape  shall  be  hung  on  the  stan- 
dards and  colors  of  the  Consular  Guard." 

The  distribution  of  "  arms  of  honor,"  in  reward  for 
great  deeds,  was  also  very  popular,  and  prepared  the 
way  for  the  future  creation  of  the  "  Legion  of  Honor." 

A  third  incident  helped  to  increase  the  popular  en- 
thusiasm for  ]N"apoleon,  and  to  attach  the  Guard  still 
jaore  strongly  to  him.  A  sergeant  of  grenadiers,  who 
was  noted  for  the  remarkable  feats  in  arms  he  had 
performed,  received  one  of  these  *'  arms  of  honor,"  a 


24  THE   OLD   GUARD. 

fine  sabre.  Immediately  on  its  inception,  he  wrote 
the  following  naive  letter  to  the  First  Consul,  in  which. 
it  will  be  observed,  he  forgets  to  thank  his  benefactor 
for  the  gift,  and  simply  enumerates  his  own  deeds  and 
asks  a  favor.     It  commences  : 

*'Leon  Aune,  Sergeant  of  Grenadiers,  in  the  32d  denni-brigade, 
to  citizen  Bonaparte,  First  Consul  at  Paris. 

Citizen  First  Consul  :  Your  arrival  upon  the  territory  of 
the  Republic  has  consoled  all  pure  souls,  chiefly  mine.  Hav- 
ing no  hope  but  in  you,  I  conne  to  you  as  my  guardian  deity,  to 
pray  you  to  give  a  place  in  your  good  memory  to  Leon,  whom 
you  have  so  often  loaded  with  favors  on  the  field  of  battle. 

Not  having  been  able  to  embark  with  you  for  Egypt,  there 
to  reap  new  laurels  under  your  command,  I  find  myself  at  the 
depot  of  the  32d  demi-brigade,  in  the  quality  of  a  sergeant. 
Having  been  told  by  my  comrades,  that  you  often  spoke  of  me  in 
Egypt,  I  pray  you  not  to  abandon  me,  while  you  make  me  know 
that  you  remember  me.  It  is  useless  to  remind  you  of  affairs, 
where  I  have  shown  myself  a  true  republican,  and  where  I  have 
merited  the  esteem  of  my  superiors.  Nevertheless,  you  will  not 
forget  that  at  Montenotte,  I  saved  the  life  of  General  Rampoii, 
and  the  Chief  of  the  Brigade,  Masse,  as  they  will  certify.  At 
Diego,  I  took  a  stand  of  colors  from  the  Chief  Engineer  of  the 
Army  of  the  enemy ;  at  Lodi,  1  was  the  first  to  mount  to  the 
assault,  and  I  opened  the  gates  to  our  brethren  in  arms;  at  Borg- 
hetto,  I  was  among  the  first  who  passed  the  bridges — the  bridge 
giving  way,  T  was  cast  among  the  enemy,  and  took  the  comman- 
dan  of  the  post  prisoner.  A  little  after,  being  made  prisoner 
myself,  I  slew  the  hostile  commanding  officer,  and  by  this  action, 
rescued  four  hundred  more  prisoners,  like  myself,  and  enabled 
them  to  re-join  their  respective  corps.     Moreover,  I  have  five 


LEON  ATJNE.  2S 

wounds  upon  my  body.  I  dare  then  to  hope,  and  am  well  per- 
suaded, that  you  always  have  regard  for  those  who  have  so  well 
seived  their  country. 

Health  and  respect, 

LEON  AUNE." 

This  letter,  more  distinguished,  we  must  confess  for 
its  simplicity  and  honesty,  than  for  its  modesty,  fur- 
nished Bonaparte,  an  admirable  opportunity  for  pro 
ducing  an  effect  upon  his  Guard,  and  indeed  the 
whole  army.  He  intended  his  answer  should  be 
made  public,  although  apparently  written  as  a  private 
note.     He  wrote — 

"  I  have  received  your  letter,  my  brave  comrade.     You  did  not 

need  to  refresh  my  memory ;  you  are  the  bravest  grenadier,  since 

the  death  of  Benezete ;  you  have  had  one  of  the  sabres  that  I 

have  distributed  to   the  army.     All  your  comrades,   with  one 

accord,  pronounce  you  worthy  of  it  above  all  others.     I  desire 

much  to  see  you  ;  the  Minister  of  War,  sends  an  order  for  you 

to  come  to  Paris. 

BONAPARTE." 

The  sensation  this  letter  caused  in  the  army  was 
prodigious.  "What,  the  First  Consul  of  the  Republic, 
and  the  greatest  General  of  modern  times,  write  to  a 
common  sergeant,  and  call  him  '' my  hrave  com/rade  P^ 
He  might  occupy  forty  Tuileries  with  the  pomp  of 
an  emperor,  such  language  would  atone  for  all  in 
the  sight  of  the  army.  A  better  republican  could 
not  exist.  This  letter  was  a  double  hit,  for  it  not 
only  removed  from  the  soldiers  whatever  suspiciona 
2 


26  THE   OLD   GUARD. 

might  have  arisen  of  Bonaparte's  designs,  when  thej^ 
saw  him  ascend  the  steps  of  the  Tuileries,  as  its  occu- 
pant, but  it  fired  them  with  the  loftiest  enthusiasm. 
Who  would  not  fight  bravely  under  a  chieftain  who 
bestowed  such  epithets  on  the  humblest  soldier  fi  r 
deeds  of  daring  ? 

But  Bonaparte's  chief  favors  were  lavished  on  his 
Guard.  Already  he  seemed  to  forecast  the  future, 
and  see  the  terrible  corps  with  which  he  was  to  sur- 
round his  person.  This  attention  to  his  guard  soon 
produced  feelings  of  envy  and  rivalry  in  other  regi- 
ments of  the  army,  which  at  length  broke  out  into 
quarrels  and  serious  conflicts.  One  day  a  trumpeter 
of  the  mounted  chasseurs  of  the  Guard  was  conversing 
at  the  entrance  to  the  barracks  with  some  under- 
officers  like  himself,  when  several  masters  of  arms  in 
the  army  of  the  line  approached  and  demanded  to 
see  their  colleagues — the  masters  of  arms  of  the  chas- 
seurs, intending  it  as  an  insult  to  the  trumpeter  and 
his  friends.  "They  rest  in  Egypt,"  was  the  reply. 
"  But,  trumpeter,"  said  one,  as  he  gave  his  moustache 
a  contemptuous  twist,  "  you  ought  to  have  some  one 
of  them  remaining."  The  trumpeter  replying  in  the 
negative,  the  masters  showed  so  clearly  that  they 
were  bent  on  a  quarrel,  that  the  former  became  im- 
patient and  exclaimed,  "  Oh,  well,  gentlemen,  enter 
the  barracks,  shut  your  eyes,  and  the  first  man  you 
put  your  hands  on  will  prove  to  you  that,  if  the  mas- 


A  QUARREL.  27 

ters  and  pro'^-osts  of  the  regiment  rest  in  Egypt,  their 
good  swords  yet  remain."  This  was  sufficient  ^  each 
chose  his  champion,  and,  in  a  few  minutes,  four 
masters  of  arms  were  put  Jiors  du  comhat.  Eugene 
Beauharnais,  who  was  then  but  chief  of  a  squadron 
of  chasseurs,  hearing  of  it,  called  the  trumpeter  to 
him  and  reproached  him  bitterly.  The  latter  de- 
fended himself  on  the  ground  that  he  was  provoked 
into  the  quarrel.  "I  detest  bullies,"  broke  in  Eu- 
gene, with  a  tone  that  did  not  admit  a  reply.  "  Let 
me  hear  no  more  of  such  scandalous  conduct.  As  to 
you,  if  it  happens  again,  I  will  put  a  blade  of  wood 
in  your  scabbard."  "My  commander,"  said  the 
trumpeter,  smiling,  "there  will  still  be  means  to 
brush  the  clothes  of  those  who  would  throw  dirt 
upon  ours." 

A  few  days  after,  new  provocations  were  given  to 
the  chasseurs  of  the  Guard,  when  a  quarrel  ensued 
which  finally  drew  fifty  men  into  a  deliberate  fight. 
Murderous  work  would  have  followed  had  not  Lefeb- 
vre,  who  had  been  apprised  of  it,  charged  on  them  with 
a  squadron  of  horse  grenadiers. 

These  quarrels,  however,  were  soon  forgotten  in 
more  serious  events,  and  the  Consular  Guard  was  to 
place  itself  beyond  the  reach  of  envy  and  be  looked 
up  to  as  a  model,  and  not  frowned  upon  as  a  rival. 
The  peace  was  over,  and  Bonaparte  directed  his  vast 


28  THE    OLD    GUARD. 

energies,  which  liad  been  employed  in  developing 
the  I'esources  of  the  nation,  to  the  war  which  threat- 
ened him  on  every  side.  The  campaign  of  Marengo 
was  at  hajv^ 


CHAPTER  II. 

Marengo— The  bloody  baptlsTi  of  tlie  Consular  Guard— Its  flrmnees— Bonapartoi 
eulogium  upon  it  after  the  wattle — Lannes  made  commander — Changes  introduced 
— Anecdote  of  Lannes  and  Napoleon — Napoleon's  attack  on  long  queues  aud 
long  hair— Shearing  of  the  Guard— Anger  of  the  officers  and  generals— Distribu- 
tion of  the  Legion  of  Honor— Description  of  the  Mamelukes  of  the  Guard. 

During  Bonaparte's  campaign  in  Egypt,  France 
had  lost  her  possessions  in  Italy;  and,  after  his  re- 
turn, he  determined  to  make  that  country  again  the 
field  of  his  conquests. 

One  hardly  knows  which  to  wonder  at  most,  the 
resurrection  he  gave  to  France  in  the  few  months 
that  succeeded  his  election  as  First  Consul;  the  de- 
velopment of  her  internal  resources  and  strength,  or 
the  magical  army  that  seemed  to  rise  at  his  touch 
from  the  earth,  and  the  next  moment  hang  in  three 
mighty  columns  amid  the  glaciers  of  the  Alps.  As 
in  his  expedition  to  Egypt  he  had  completely  out- 
witted both  England  and  the  Continent,  which  re- 
mained to  the  last  moment  icfuorant  of  the  destination 


30  THE    OLD    GUARD. 

of  his  army,  so  now  he  managed  to  mislead  Europe 
as  to  the  point  where  he  designed  to  strike.  It  was 
generally  supposed  that  he  was  on  his  way  to  Genoa, 
to  relieve  Massena,  who  was  starving  to  death  within 
its  walls.  That  brave  veteran  thought  so  too,  and  long 
and  patiently  waited  to  hear  the  thunder  of  his  can- 
non, amid  the  Appenines.  But  Bonaparte  was  seeking 
the  Austrian  general,  Melas,  though,  strange  as  it  may 
seem,  when  he  had  reunited  his  divisions  in  the 
plains  of  Piedmont  he  could  not  find  him.  It  was 
owing:  to  this  imiorance  of  the  whereabouts  of  Melae 
that  his  army  became  so  divided.  Having  scoured 
the  plains  of  Marengo,  of  which  a  few  months  before 
he  had  spoken  as  the  spot  for  a  great  battle,  without 
finding  the  enemy,  he  supposed  he  must  have  taken 
flight.  He  never  dreamed  that  if  he  intended  to  give 
battle  at  all,  he  would  leave  the  plain — above  all  the 
village  of  Marengo  unoccupied.  He,  therefore,  left 
Victor  with  two  divisions  at  Marengo,  and  Lannes  with 
one  division  en  echelon  in  the  plain,  and  hastened  back 
to  his  head  quarters  at  Yoghera,  hoping  to  hear  news 
of  the  enemy  from  Moncey  on  the  Tessino,  or  Duhes- 
me,on  the  Lower  Po.  Luckily  for  him,  however,  the 
Scrivia  had  overflowed  its  banks,  so  that  he  was 
compelled  to  stop  on  the  other  side.  Despatches 
wore  received  from  these  oflicers,  stating  that  all 
was  quiet  in  their  sections.  He  then  decided  that 
Melas  must  have  gone  by  vay  of  Novi  to  Genoa,  and 


MAKENGO.  81 

despatched  Desaix  with  a  single  division,  to  inter 
cept  him.  Great  was  his  surprise,  therefore,  in  the 
morning,  when  a  courier  from  Yictor,  burst  in  a  wild 
gallop,  into  Torre  di  Garofolo,  announcing  that  the 
whole  Austrian  army  was  crossing  the  Bormida  and 
marching  straight  upon  Marengo.  Yictor  had  scarcely 
sent  off  his  despatch  before  the  enemy,  40,000  strong, 
sustained  by  two  hundred  pieces  of  artillery,  was 
upon  him.  Sixteen  thousand  men  were  all  he  had, 
with  which  to  oppose  this  formidable  array.  But  for 
the  little  muddy  stream  of  Fontenone,  along  whose 
banks  he  had  placed  his  army,  the  battle  would  have 
been  irretrievably  lost,  long  before  Bonaparte  could 
arrive.  As  it  was,  nothing  but  the  most  stubborn  re- 
solution held  that  ground.  Immense  batteries 
thundered  on  his  shivering  lines,  almost  within 
pistol  shot,  making  horrible  gaps  at  every  discharge. 
His  ranks  melted  away  around  him  like  men  of  mist, 
still  he  maintained  his  ground,  anxiously  waiting  the 
arrival  of  Bonaparte.  If  he  could  not  hold  that 
position  he  was  lost,  for  nothing  but  the  little  village 
of  Marengo  lay  between  -him  and  the  vast  open  plain, 
where  the  cavalry  of  the  enemy  would  scatter  his 
army  like  dust  before  the  wdnd.  For  two  mortal 
hours  did  he  stand  on  the  edge  of  that  narrow  stream 
and  see  his  army  sink,  whole  ranks  at  a  time,  before 
the  murderous  discharges  of  artillery.  One  division, 
stationed  in  the  open  field,  was  almost  entirely  anni- 


32  THE    OLD    GUARD. 

hilated  by  grape  shot.  At  length  tlie  Austrian^ 
forced  the  stream.  The  French  commanders  put 
forth  almost  superhuman  efforts,  to  stop  the  flow  of 
troops  across  it.  But  they  were  compelled  to  retire, 
leaving  the  field  heaped  with  the  dead.  The  road  was 
filled  with  wounded  and  disbanded  soldiers,  the  latter 
crying  that  all  was  lost.  Lannes,  though  outflanked, 
was  making  desperate  efibrts  to  hold  on  with  his  left 
wing  to  Marengo,  his  last  remaining  hope.  Retreat 
was  impossible,  it  would  become  a  slaughter  in  the 
open  plain.  Pressed  by  that  mass  of  artillery, 
and  chased  by  clouds  of  cavalry,  his  beaten,  and 
already  half  destroyed  division,  would  be  crushed  to 
atoms. 

This  was  the  state  of  things  at  ten  o'clock,  when 
Bonaparte  came  on  a  full  gallop  to  the  field.  As  soon 
as  he  received  Victor's  despatch,  he  sent  for  Desaix, 
and  taking  with  him  a  single  division  and  his  Consular 
Guard,  set  off";  a  reserve  of  cavalry  was  to  follow. 

Casting  his  eye  over  the  disastrous  field,  he  saw  but 
the  shattered  and  flying  remnant  of  the  army,  but  he 
also  saw,  at  a  glance,  that  where  Lannes  still  held 
Marengo,  was  his  only  hope.  He  must  there  make 
a  stand  and  rally  his  troops  in  the  rear.  It  was  then 
he  rode  up  to  the  Consular  Guard,  and  bade  them 
march  into  the  open  plain  and  hold  the  cavalry  of 
the  enemy  in  check.  These  eight  hundred  forming 
instantly  into  a  square,  moved  forward  and  presented 


THE    COLUMN    OF    GRANITE.  33 

their  wall-like  sides  to  the  Austrian  horse.  In  the 
meantime  Bonaparte  flew  with  his  fresh  troops  to  the 
help  of  Lannes.  As  the  wearied  soldiers  of  the  lat- 
ter saw  the  escort  that  told  of  the  approat^U  of 
their  commander,  they  sent  up  a  loud  shout,  and 
rushed  with  renewed  fury  to-  the  assault.  Lannes 
performed  prodigies ;  and  at  first,  success  smiled  on  the 
etforts  of  Bonaparte — but  at  lent^th  overborne  by 
superior  numbers,  he  w^as  compelled  to  retreat.  Then 
came  a  trial  to  which  all  the  rest,  murderous  as  it  had 
been,  was  as  nothing.  To  m()ve  into  the  open  plain, 
pressed  by  a  victorious  army,  with  such  heavy 
artillery  and  numerous  cavalry,  was  testing  the  nerves 
of  officers  and  men  to  the  utmost. 

Yet  all  this  time  the  Consular  Guard  remamed  un- 
shaken. "  A  living  citadel"  it  moved  over  the  plain, 
rolling  from  its  adamantine  sides  the  successive 
waves  of  cavalry  that  dashed  against  them.  Bona- 
parte's eye  often  turned  anxiously  to  it.  At  moments 
it  would  be  lost  to  view,  apparently  engulfed  by  the 
enemy.  The  dark  mass  that  shut  it  in,  would  then 
rend  asunder,  and  there  moved  that  wall-like  enclosure, 
the  fire  pouring  in  streams  from  its  sides.  Lannes 
fought  like  a  lion,  canning  his  squares  slowly 
and  sternly  over  the  plain,  though  eighty  pieces  of 
artillery  hurled  their  iron  storm  upon  his  mutilated 
ranks. 

The  Consular  Guard  till    now  had  been  attacked 


34  THE   OLD   GUARD. 

only  by  cavalry.  It  seemed  impossible  that  so  small 
a  body  of  men,  forming  but  a  mere  speck  on  that  vast 
plain,  could  resist  the  overwhelming  squadrons. 
Astonished  at  such  resistance,  the  enemy  at  length 
bi'oiight  forward  his  artillery.  Bound  and  grape  shot 
smote  through  the  thinned  ranks  till  it  was  supposed 
they  were  so  dreadfully  shaken  that  the  cavalry  could 
ride  them  down  with  ease,  when  they  were  ordered 
again  to  charge.  Advancing  on  a  sweeping  gallop, 
they  burst  with  redoubled  fury  upon  this  mere  hand- 
ful of  men.  Again  and  again  they  thundered  on  that 
firm  formation,  but  when  the  dust  and  smoke  cleared 
away  there  it  stood  solid  and  terrible  as  ever.  Re- 
coil and  melt  away  it  must,  and  did,  but  break 
or  fly  it  never  would.  In  the  midst  of  a  vast  plain, 
surrounded  by  tens  of  thousands  of  men  and  horses, 
pressed  by  a  victorious  foe,  enveloped  in  dark  masses 
of  cavalry  that  kept  falling  in  successive  shocks  on 
its  exhausted  ranks,  rent  by  cannon  shot — in  the  in- 
tervals of  the  roars  of  artillery  their  ears  assailed  by 
cries  of  terror  from  their  flying  comrades — ignorant 
how  the  battle  was  going  in  other  parts  of  the  dis- 
ordered field,  save  that  the  whole  army  was  in  full 
retreat,  this  band  of  eight  hundred  men,  now  reduced 
to  a  mere  handful,  never  thought  of  flying- 

In  the  midst  of  this  tumult  and  carnage,  when  they 
seemed  no  longer  struggling  for  victory,  and  intent 
only  on  showing  how  brave  men  should  die,  a  sight 


ITS  FIRST  BAPTISM.  85 

burst  on  tiieiu  ;liat  tilled  every  heart  with  the  wildest 
enthusiasm.  As  the  cloud  of  battle  rent  a  iiiomeiit 
before  them,  they  saw  in  the  midst  of  the  turbulent 
plain,  JSTapoleon,  surrounded  by  his  staff  and  two  hun- 
dred mounted  grenadiers,  bravely  breasting  the  storm. 
At  the  view  an  involuntary  and  frantic  hurrah  burst 
from  that  solid  sqwdve^  and '"'' vive  JVajjoleon,-^  roWed 
over  the  field  like  the  shout  of  victory. 

That  single  square,  though  dreadfully  narrowed, 
and  bleeding  at  every  pore  remained  as  perfect  in 
its  formation  at  the  close  of  that  disastrous  retreat, 
as  when  it  first  marched  into  the  plain  to  stem  the 
tide  of  battle.  To  use  the  expressive  metaphor  of 
Bonaparte,  it  stood,  during  those  five  hours  of 
slaughter,  a  "  column  of  granite." 

The  arrival  of  Desaix,  and  the  defeat  of  the 
Austrians,  are  well  known.  Italy  w^as  reconquered. 
Bonaparte,  after  the  battle,  addressing  Bes^ieres,  who 
commanded  the  guard,  said,  "  The  Guard  which  you 
command  is  covered  with  glory?''  The  lesson  he 
learned  that  day  was  not  lost  upon  him.  He  saw 
what  could  be  done  with  a  body  of  picked  men,  bound 
to  him  by  affection,  and  borne  up  with  the  conscious- 
ness of  the  high  trust  committed  to  their  charge.  Such 
men  were  irresistible. 

This  was  the  first  baptism  of  the  Guard,  and  a 
m.ore  bloody  one  it  could  not  well  have  had. 

Lannes,  as  a  reward  for  his  bravery,  was  appointed 


S(>  THE    OLD    GUAKI*. 

commander  of  it.  In  November  of  the  next  year, 
1801,  however,  it  underwent  a  change,  and  four 
general  officers  were  appointed  over  it.  General 
Davoust  for  the  Foot  Grenadiers,  General  Soult  for 
the  Foot  Chasseurs,  Bessieres  for  the  Cavalry,  and 
Mortier  for  the  Artillery  and  Matelots. 

Lannes,  of  course,  lost  his  command  which  he  had 
so  nobly  earned,  some  say  because  he  managed  the 
chest  of  the  Guard  loosely,  and  rendered  false  ac- 
counts of  the  money  he  received.  This  is  doubtful, 
still  he  lived  in  the  most  prodigal  manner,  and  ex- 
pended more  than  he  was  authorized  to  do,  thus 
setting  an  example  which  would  not  answer  in  the 
commander  of  a  Guard,  whose  character  Bonaparte 
had  determined  should  be  without  reproach.  Others 
attributed  his  dismissal  to  his  too  great  familiarity  of 
manner.  The  dignity  of  the  First  Consul  could  not 
permit  that  freedom  from  his  first  lieutenants,  which 
the  extravagant  notions  of  equality  then  pervading 
the  army,  sanctioned.  Lannes  and  Augeraeu,  blunt 
and  republican  in  their  habits  and  thoughts,  often 
took  unwarrantable  liberties  with  Bonaparte,  relying 
on  their  great  deeds  to  screen  them  from  rebuke.  It 
is  said  that  a  short  time  previous  to  the  new  appoint- 
ments in  the  Guard,  as  Bonaparte  one  day  ordered 
some  Barbary  horses,  which  had  been  sent  to  him 
as  a  present,  to  be  brought  into  the  court  at  Malmaison, 
Lannes,  who  wa?   presen%   proposed  a  game  of  bil- 


AN  INCIDENT.  37 

I'iards,  the  stake  to  be  tlie  price  of  one  of  the  horses, 
Bonaparte  consented ;  they  played  and  Lannes  won. 
The  former,  no  doubt,  designed  he  should,  making 
use  of  the  proposal  of  his  brave  lieutenant  to  bestow 
on  him  a  favor. 

"  I  have  beaten  thee,"  said  the  latter,  (for  he  was 
accustomed  to  thee  and  thou  Bonaparte  like  a  quaker,) 
and  of  course  I  have  the  right  of  choice,"  and  with- 
out waiting  for  permission,  he  ran  out  and  examined 
the  horses,  and  having  selected  the  most  beautiful, 
put  on  the  saddle  and  bridle,  and  springing  into  the 
seat,  spurred  away  at  a  gallop  saying,  "Adieu,  Bona- 
parte, I  will  not  dine  here  to-day,  for  if  I  remain  thou 
wilt  succeed  in  getting  back  thy  horse."  ISTapoleon 
did  not  esteem  his  Ajax  any  the  less  for  this ;  he  knew 
his  brave  heart  too  well,  but  he  saw  that  the  repeti- 
tion of  such  scenes  would  weaken  his  authority  and 
prevent  that  absolute  submission  to  his  will  which  he 
required  of  the  Guard.  Lannes  was  sent  ambassador 
to  Lisbon. 

1802,  1803,  AND  A  PART  OF  1804. 

Bonaparte  soon  issued  a  new  decree  respecting  the 
Guard,  augmenting  it  still  more.  Among  other  changes 
he  made  soldiers  of  the  drivers  of  the  artillery  wagons. 
Upheld  by  n'^  feeling  of  honor  and  subject  to  no  pro- 
motion, however  daring  they  might  be  in  carrying 
the  guns  into  t1ie  enemy's  iire,  they  at  the  moment 


38  THE    OLD    GUARD. 

the  action  became  hot,  would  cut  the  traces  and  gal 
lop  off.  Bonaparte  decreed  that  thej  should  weai 
the  unitunn  of  the  soldiers  and  be  incorporated  into 
the  army,  He  decreed  also  that  the  whole  military 
force  should  be  called  upon  to  furnish  recruits  when- 
ever needed  to  the  Guard — their  admission  in  it  to 
be  the  reward  of  bravery  and  good  conduct.  Several 
qualifications  were  necessary  to  render  a  soldier  a  fit 
candidate.  He  must  be  in  active  service,  he  must 
have  made  at  least  four  campaigns,  obtained  rewards 
for  deeds  of  arms  or  noble  conduct,  or  been  wounded. 
The  grenadiers  must  be  at  least  five  feet  six  inches 
high,  and  the  chasseurs  five  feet  four  inches,  and 
each  one  to  have  maintained  an  irreproachable  char 
acter. 

An  incident  occurred  at  this  time  which  shows  how 
sensitive  Bonaparte  was  to  the  least  demoralizing  in- 
fluence in  his  Guard.  Two  grenadiers  having  com- 
mitted suicide,  he  added  the  following  note  to  the 
order  of  the  day.  "  The  grenadier  Gaubin  has  com 
mitted  suicide  from  disappointment  in  love ;  he  was 
in  other  respects  a  good  subject.  This  is  the  second 
event  of  the  kind  that  has  happened  to  the  corps  in 
a  month.  The  First  Consul  ordains  that  it  shall  bo 
aftixed  to  the  order  of  the  Guard  that  a  soldier  ought 
to  know  how  to  overcome  the  grief  and  melancholy 
arising  from  his  passions  ;  that  to  bear  with  constancy 
the  pains  of  the  soul,  shows  as  much  true  courage  as 


CHANGE  OF  UNiroKM.  80 

to  rest  fixed  and  immovable  under  the  fire  of  a  hat 
terj.  To  abandon  one's  self  to  chagrin  without  resis- 
tance, to  slay  one's  self  to  get  rid  of  it,  is  to  desert 
tlie  battle-field  before  the  victory." 

It  was  by  such  means  he  taught  those  who  were 
in  future  to  serve  him  with  blind  devotion,  never  ask- 
ing or  caring  what  were  his  orders,  that  self-endur- 
ance and  heroic  resolution  which,  years  after,  in  the 
snows  of  Kussia,  astonished  the  world. 

THE  IMPERIAL  GUARD,  1804. 

After  various  political  changes,  Bonaparte  was  at 
length  declared  emperor.  To  the  decree  of  the  10th 
Thermidor,  29th  of  July,  was  simply  added,  "  The 
Consular  Guard  will  take  in  future  the  name  of  the 
Imperial  Guard,  and  will  continue  to  be  specially 
attached  to  my  person." 

Soon  after  he  began  to  introduce  changes  in  the 
uniform  of  the  Guard.  The  first  innovation  was  a 
bold  push,  laughable  from  its  insignificance,  but 
withal,  a  serious  matter;  this  was  no  less  than  to 
compel  not  only  his  Guard,  but  the  whole  army  to 
dispense  with  their  long  queues  and  long  hair  of 
which  they  were  as  proud  and  tenacious  as  the  Ger- 
mans and  Gauls  according  to  Tacitus,  were  in  the 
time  of  Caesar. 

One  day  after  a  review^  of  the  troops,  JSTapoleon 
standing  in  the  hall  of  the  Mai-shals,  surrounded  by 


40 


THK    OLD    (fUAKI). 


the  chiefs  of  the  separate  corps,  broke  out  into  one  of 
tliose  biting  sarcasms  which  so  often  made  those  wince 
who  heard  them.  lie  began  with  the  hats.  "  Decided- 
ly, gentlemen,"  said  he,  "  I  do  not  wisli  to  see  my  troops 
any  more  wear  the  chapeaux.  It  is  always  placed  on 
their  head  in  such  a  manner  as  to  make  a  gutter  of 
one  corner.  It  is  as  disagreeable  to  the  sight  as  inju- 
rious to  the  health  of  the  soldier.  It  is  ridiculous  in 
a  day  of  rain  or  great  heat,  or  as  to-day  when  we 
have  had  both  together ;  to  see  a  soldier  with  the 
collar  of  his  coat  covered  with  a  white  paste,  his  haii 
badly  held  together  by  an  equivocal  riband,  his  fore- 
head and  cheeks  running  with  a  milky  water,  and  the 
whole  covered  with  a  narrow  hat,  badly  shaped, 
which  protects  the  face  from  neither  rain  nor  sun ! 
One  needed  only  to  see  them  in  Italy  and  Egypt. 
Poor  devils,  I  suffered  for  them."  One  of  the  officers 
hinted  at  an  ordinance,  when  Napoleon  broke  out 
again,  winding  up  with  an  attack  on  "  long  tresses  and 
useless  queues.'''^  "  How,  sire,"  exclaimed  the  same 
officer,  "  would  you  shear  all  without  distinction," 
"  Yes  sir,"  he  rej^lied,  "  like  sheep."  The  former  sug 
gested  that  it  would  be  impossible  to  obtain  the  con- 
sent of  the  officers  to  such  a  change,  so  attached  were 
they  to  their  locks.  A  glance  of  fire  was  the  reply, 
as  he  exclaimed,  "  I  should  like  to  see.  Monsieur  Col- 
onel, the  men  who  owe  everything  to  me,  my  soldiers, 
in  a  word,  to  reflect  on  the  thing  at  all,  is  it  not  suffi- 


ATTACK  ON  QUEUE'S.  41 

3ient  that  I  wish  it?  Is  it  for  my  Guard  to  object 
when  I  require  that  all  should  have  their  hair  shorn  ?" 
Passing  his  hand  quickly  over  his  own  head,  he 
added,  "  Do  I  wear  a  queue,  is  not  my  hair  cut 
close  ?"  "  Yes,"  said  Junot,  "  and  the  soldiers  of  the 
Guard  call  you  nothing  but  the  "little  shorn" — le 
'petit  tondu. 

Napoleon  smiled  in  spite  of  himself,  and  said,  "very 
well,  the  more  reason — a  soldier  should  always  follow 
the  example  of  his  chief.  I  am  aware  that  some  fop 
or  Adonis  of  an  officer  will  not  be  very  well  sat- 
isfied ;  but  those  who  will  not  be  content  *  *  *  *  " 
He  left  the  sentence  unfinished,  and  crossing  his 
hands  behind  him,  promenaded  awhile  in  silence, 
in  the  circle  of  ofiicers  that  surrounded  him.  At 
length  he  said  I  will  speak  to  Bessieres  and  Murat 
about  it,  I  will  commence  by  demanding  Murat  to 
sacrifice  that  head  of  hair  a  la  Louis  XIY.,  which, 
with  our  habits  and  military  costume  is  ridiculous. 
The  chiefs  of  the  army  must  show  examples  of  obe- 
dience. I  wish  neither  tresses  nor  queues  nor  pow- 
der nor  pomatum."  Saying  this  he  bowed  and  passed 
out. 

The  same  day  Murat  who  had  assisted  at  the  review 
of  the  morning,  coming  to  receive  the  orders  of  the 
Emperor,  asked  if  he  had  been  pleased  with  the  re- 
view. "  Yes,"  said  !N"apoleon,  but  (fixing  his  eyes  on 
the  long  hair  of  his  beautiful  brother-in-law)  added,  "  J 


42  THE   OLD    GUARD. 

should  have  been  better  j^leased  it*  you  liad  cut  oft'aL 
the  tresses  and  queues  of  your  cavaliers."  Murat  said 
nothing,  but  bowed  and  disappeared  among  the  crowd 
of  officers  that  were  assembling.  He  saw  at  once  that 
the  reign  of  queues  was  over.  At  the  extremity  of  the 
gallery  he  met  Bessieres,  one  of  the  four  commanders 
of  the  Guard,  whose  immense  queue  was  a  subject  of 
remark  throughout  the  whole  army.  "  Eh  bien,  my 
dear  fellow,"  said  he  in  a  tone  half  sorrowful  and 
half  joking,  "  thou  hast  heard  the  words  of  the  Em- 
peror— no  more  queues  !  Accept  in  advance  my  con- 
dolence on  the  approaching  fall  of  yours."  "  My 
dear  sir,"  replied  the  young  marshal,  "  the  roots  of  a 
queue  like  mine  reach  near  to  the  heart,  and  the  Em- 
peror with  all  his  power  cannot  make  me  cut  it  off.  I 
hope  our  old  comrades  of  Italy  and  Egypt  will  prove 
refractory  as  myself  in  this  matter." 

The  next  day  I^apoleon  spoke  again  to  Murat,  who 
although  he  sympathized  with  Bessieres,  did  not  dare 
to  express  his  sentiments.  At  length  turning  towards 
him,  the  Emperor  said  laconically,  "  My  Guard  alone 
shall  w^ear  the  queue,  and  it  shall  not  be  more  thari 
two  inches  long,  such  shall  be  the  ordinance." 

The  reign  of  queues  was  over ;  the  young  officers 
adopted  the  change  cheerfully,  and  on  the  day  of  the 
publication  of  the  ordinance,  the  barbers'  shops  near 
the  quarters  of  the  troops  were  filled  from  morning 
till  night,  and  more  than  two  thousand  queues  were 


LEGION  OF  HONOR.  4:3 

sacrificed.  But  in  the  same  evening  tiiere  were  inore 
than  twenty  duels.  A  quarrel  commenced  by  one 
calling  another  just  sheared,  a  spaniel.  Friends  on 
either  side,  took  part  in  it,  till  the  whole  corps  was 
involved,  and,  for  awhile,  serious  difficulty  was  threat- 
ened. It  required  great  tact  to  settle  quietly  the  rage 
caused  by  this  onslaught  against  tresses  and  queues. 

An  appropriate  uniform  for  every  portion  of  the 
Guard  was  adopted  and  it  soon  reached  that  eminence 
and  deserved  the  character  given  of  it  in  the  preced- 
ing chapter. 

Each  of  the  corps  of  foot  and  mounted  grenadiers 
and  chasseurs  of  the  Guard  furnished  a  battalion  and 
squadron  to  attend  the  emperor  in  his  imperial  resi- 
dence. They  were  relieved  every  three  months. 
Each  of  the  corps  of  infantry  was  on  service  alternate 
weeks. 

Soon  after  Bonaparte's  elevation  to  supreme  power, 
he  made  a  grand  display  in  the  distribution  of  the 
cross  of  the  Legion  of  Honor  to  those  of  his  Guard 
who  wei-e  selected  as  members.  Sun'ounded  by  his 
his  magnificent- staff,  escorted  by  his  troops,  met  with 
salvos  of  cannon,  he  proceeded  to  the  place  where  the 
distribution  was  to  take  place.  The  decorations  were 
taken  from  a  basin  of  gold,  and  affixed  to  each  one 
pronounced  worthy  of  the  honor.  No  one  at  this  day 
can  conceive  the  excitement  and  enthusiasm  caused 
by  the  distribution  of  this  simple  decoration.    At 


44  THE    OLD    GUARD. 

Boulogne,  shortly  after,  the  same  distribution  was 
made  to  the  army,  and,  if  possible,  in  a  njore  impos- 
ing manner  and  causing  greater  enthusiasm.  As  Na- 
poleon in  the  presence  of  the  assembled  thousands 
called  the  scarred  veterans  of  Italy  and  Egypt  to  him 
and  spoke  of  Montenotte,  of  Lodi,  Areola,  Maren 
go,  of  the  Pyramids,  and  of  Egypt,  tears  rolled  down 
their  cheeks,  and  when  the  ceremony  was  finished, 
the  very  heavens  rocked  to  the  shouts  of ''  Vive  I'Em- 
pereur." 

In  addition  to  the  more  regular  corps  of  the  Impe- 
rial Guard,  there  was  a  squadron  of  Mamelukes,  a 
memento,  as  it  were,  of  the  Pyramids  and  the  battles 
of  the  Nile. 

It  was  formed  from  the  corps  of  "  Guides  "  which 
Bonaparte  had  in  Egypt,  and  had  nothing  of  the 
Mameluke  about  them  but  the  oriental  costume. 
This  squadron  with  its  horse-tail  standard,  its  white 
heron  plumes  rising  over  the  Asiatic  turban,  its  tim- 
brels and  trumpets  and  all  the  trappings  of  the  horses,  a 
la  Turk — its  elegant  dresses  covered  with  ^old  lace 
and  silk — its  bright  Damascus  blades,  presented  a 
most  singular  yet  picturesque  appearance,  amid  the 
bear  skin  caps  and  heavy  armor  of  the  cuirassiei's 
There  was  also  a  small  corps  of  Marines,  with  a  blue 
uniform.  It  had  also  two  squadrons  of  gend'armes  d'e- 
lite,  who  performed  the  police  duty  at  head  quarters, 
and  a  fine  Italian  battalion.     Its  artillery  arm  was  at 


ADDITIONS  TO  IT.  45 

this  time  strengthened,  numbering  in  all,  24  piece? 
of  caonon.  At  the  close  ot  the  year  1804,  the  Guard 
numbered  9,798  men,  though  nominally  composed  of 
oat  7000. 


CHAPTER  m. 

Reoommencement  of  tho  War— The  Camp  at  Boulogne— The  Old  Guard  at  Auste?- 
lltz — Meeting  of  the  Imperial  Guards  of  the  Czar  and  Napoleon — The  Guard  at 
Jena— The  Velites— Young  Desherbiers— Habits  of  Napoleon  In  Campaign— Hi» 
Body  Guard— Presentation  of  the  Eagle  to  a  New  Regiment 

After  a  few  years  of  peace,  England,  bj  her  per- 
fidious violation  of  the  treaty  of  Amiens,  brought 
on  a  war  between  herself  and  France.  ISTapoleon,  no 
longer  shackled  by  divided  power  was  now  free  as 
Caesar.  His  vast  and  restless  mind  could  sweep  the 
horizon  of  his  dominions,  and  find  nothing  to  inter- 
fere with  his  great  i^lans.  Laying  his  hand  on  the 
mighty  empire,  just  passed  into  his  keeping,  he 
wielded  it  with  the  ease  he  managed  a  single  army. 

With  one  of  the  best  armies  that  ever  stood  on  the  soil 
of  France,  possessing,  at  the  same  time,  all  the  advan 
tage  of  a  long  rest  and  thorough  discipline,  and  the 
experience  of  veterans,  he  resolved  to  punish  England 
for  her  perfidy,  and  teach  her  that  while  she  stirred 
up  Europe  to  strife  and  bloodshed,  she  too  might 
reap  the  curse  of  war,  carried  to  her  own  soil. 


BOULOGNE.  47 

But  while  collecting  hi?  vast  Flotillas  and  training 
lis  soldiers  at  Boulogne,  preparatory  to  the  invasion 
of  lier  territory,  he  was  informed  that  a  powerfuj 
eoalition  was  forming  against  him  on  the  Continent. 
Swedeu,  Russia,  Austria,  and  England  had  entered 
into  an  alliance,  and  even  Prussia  was  vacillating 
between  making  common  cause  with  the  allies  and 
remaining  neutral.  Called  at  once  from  his  designs 
of  invading  England,  the  Emperor  turned  his  eye 
lorthward,  and  eastward,  and  southward,  and  lo, 
armies  in  each  direction  were  marching  against  him. 
Four  hundred  thousand  soldiers  were  making  ready  to 
strike  France  and  her  territories  from  four  different 
Doints.  He  at  once  penetrated  the  designs  of  the  allied 
sovereigns,  and  with  that  marvellous  power  of  combi- 
nation, no  other  chieftain  has  ever  possessed,  he  ni'irked 
out  the  plan  of  the  entire  campaign  at  Boulogne,  pre- 
dicted th  movements  of  the  allied  armies,  the  blunders 
they  wo'dd  commit,  chose  his  own  routes,  and  accom- 
plished what  he  proposed.  IsTeverhad  captain,  either 
in  ancient  or  modern  times  conceived  and  executed 
plans  on  such  a  scale.  "  E'ever  indeed  had  a  more 
mighty  mind,  possessing  greater  freedom  of  will, 
commanded  means  more  prodigious  to  operate  on 
Buch  an  extent  of  country."  From  Calabria  to  the 
Gulf  of  Finland,  he  had  the  whole  Continent  to  look 
after,  for  he  was  menaced  on  every  side. 
The  allies  prosecuted  their  plans  leisurely,  having 


48  THE   OLD   GUARD. 

littlo  fear  of  an  army  encamped  on  the  shores  of  tha 
ocean.  But  there  was  a  stir  in  that  camp  which  por- 
tended evil  somewhere. 

No  one  knew  I^apoleon's  plans.  France  even 
remained  in  ignorance  of  them.  The  army  itself  wag 
ignorant  of  its  destination,  but  in  twenty  days,  to  the 
astonishment  and  consternation  of  Europe,  its  terri 
ble  standards  shook  along  the  Mayn,  the  Neckar,  and 
the  Rhine,  and  the  shout  of  "  Vive  V  Emjpereur^'^ 
rolled  over  the  plains  of  Germany.  This  army  Na- 
poleon called  the  "Grand  Army,"  a  name  it  ever 
after  bore  ;  and  those  who  saw  it  sweeping  on,  column 
after  column  of  infantry,  miles  of  artillery,  long  files 
of  cavalry,  and  last  of  all  the  Old  Guard,  with  the 
Emperor  in  its  midst,  in  all  186,000  men,  re-echoed 
the  appellation  "  The  Grand  Army." 

The  Old  Guard  had  left  Boulogne  by  post.  Twenty 
thousand  carriages,  loaded  down  with  the  troops 
were  whirled  away  towards  Germany,  whither  the 
army  marched  with  unparalleled  speed. 

On  the  27th  of  August,  most  of  this  immense  force 
lay  at  Boulogne  ;  on  the  25th  and  26th  of  September 
it  crossed  the  Rhine.  On  the  13th  of  October  amid 
a  storm  of  snow,  Napoleon  harangued  the  weary  troops 
of  Marmont,  that  had  just  arrived,  and  explained  to 
them  his  plans,  and  told  them  he  had  surrounded  the 
enemy.  On  the  18th,  Mack  agreed  to  surrender 
Ulm  with  an  army  of  80,000  men  to  him  as  prisoners 


AUSTEKLITZ.  49 

of  war.  By  the  20th  lie  could  look  back  on  his 
operations  and  behold  an  arnij  of  eighty  thousand 
men  destroyed,  sixty  thousand  of  whom  had  been 
taken  prisoners  with  two  hundred  pieces  of  cannon, 
and  eighty  stands  of  colors.  All  this  had  been  done 
in  twenty  days,  with  the  loss  of  less  than  two  thousand 
men. 

On  the  13th  of  ITovember  his  banners  waved  over 
the  walls  of  Vienna.  Twelve  days  after  he  recon- 
noitred the  field  of  Austerlitz,  and  selected  it  at  once 
as  the  battle-field  where  he  would  overthrow  the  com- 
bined forces  of  Russia  and  Austria,  led  on  by  their 
respective  sovereigns.  With  70,000  men  he  had  re- 
solved not  to  drive  back  the  approaching  army  of 
90,000,  but  to  annihilate  it.  He  refused  to  take  posi- 
tion where  he  could  most  effectually  check  it  advance, 
determined  to  win  all  or  lose  all.  Matching  his 
single  intellect  in  the  pride  of  true  genius,  against 
the  two  emperors  with  their  superior  army,  he  ca- 
joled them  into  a  battle  when  they  should  have  de- 
clined it ;  in  order  to  fiiiish  the  war  with  a  "  claj^  of 
thunder  P 

In  the  midst  of  that  terrible  battle  while  Soult  was 
ascending  the  heights  of  Pratzen,  pressing  full  on  the 
enemy's  centre,  Lannes  thundering  on  the  left  with 
artillery  and  cavalry,  Oudinot  on  the  right  re-earning 
his  marshal's  staff,  Suchet  forcing  the  reluctant  ene- 
my before  him,  a  conflict  took  place  in  the  presence  of 
3 


50  THE    OLI>   GUAKD. 

Napoleon  and  the  allied  sovereigns  wliicli  gave  a  fin- 
ishing blow  to  the  battle.     The  Gtand  Duke  Constan 
tine  seeing  that  it  was  going  against  him,  took  the 
whole  Russian  Imperial  Guard  and  leading  them  in  one 
dark  mass  down  the  heights,  moved  midway  into  the 
low  grounds  to  charge  the  advancing  French.     Yan- 
dame  brought  forward  his  division  to  meet  the  shock. 
While  he  was  thus  engaged  with  this  immense  and 
picked  body  of  soldiers,  the  Grand  Duke  put  himself 
at  the  head  of  two  thousand  heavy  armed  cuirassiers 
of  the  guards,  and  burst  in   resistless  strength   on 
the  flank  of  Yandame's  division.     The  French  col- 
umn was  rent  asunder  before  it,  and  three  battalions 
trampled  under  foot.     Napoleon  who  was  advancing 
to  reinforce  Soidt  with  the  infantry  of  his  guard  saw, 
from   a   height  this   overthrow,   and    exclaimed   to 
Eapp  who  was   by  his  side,  "they  are  in  disorder 
yonder,  that  must   be   set  to   rights."      The   latter 
putting    himself   at   the    head   of  the    Mamelukes 
and    chasseurs  of   the  Guard,  cried   out,  "soldiers, 
you    see    what    has    happened    below    there,   they 
are  sabreing  our  comrades  ;  let  us  fly  to  their  res- 
cue."    Four  pieces  of  horse   artillery  set  off  on  a 
gallop  in  advance.     The  next   moment   those  flery 
horsemen  were  sweeping  with  headlong  speed  upon 
the  Imperial   Cavalry.     A  dischj\rge  of  grape-shot 
swept  through  them  thinning  them  sadly,  but  not  for 
a  'noment  arresting  the  charge.     The  shock  was  irre- 


CAVALRY  chakgp:.  5i 

Bistible.  Horse  and  liorsemaii  roiled  together  on  the 
plain.  The  white  heron  plumes  of  the  Mamelukes 
and  the  shakos  of  the  chasseurs  swept  like  a  vision 
tln'ough  the  overthi-own  ranks  and  they  were  still 
pressing  on  even  beyond  the  wreck  of  their  own  bat- 
talions which  had  just  fallen,  when  the  fresh  horse 
guard  of  Alexander  fell  upon  them.  With  their 
horses  blown  from  the  severe  conflict  they  had  been 
enduring,  this  new  attack  proved  too  much  for  them. 
The  brave  Morland,  Colonel  of  the  Chasseurs,  was 
killed  on  the  spot,  and  the  two  corps  forced  back. 
Napoleon  who  had  watched  with  the  deepest  anxiety 
this  terrific  meeting  of  the  Imperial  Guards,  no 
sooner  saw  the  check  of  Rapp  and  the  overwhelming 
force  bearing  down  upon  him  from  the  re-formed 
cuirassiers,  than  he  ordered  Bessieres  with  the  horse 
grenadiers,  to  charge.  Kot  a  moment  was  to  be  lost, 
the  bugles  rang  forth  the  charge,^and  like  a  single 
man  that  living  mass  of  disciplined  valor  went  pour- 
ing forward  to  the  strife.  The  steady  gallop  of  their 
heavy  horses  shook  the  plain,  and  so  accurate  and 
regular  was  their  swift  movement,  that  they  appeared 
like  a  dark  and  ponderous  wave  rolling  onward. 
But  the  crest  it  bore  was  composed  of  glittering  steel. 
Right  gallantly  was  that  tremendous  onset  received, 
and  those  vast  bodies  of  cavalry  the  elite  of  both 
armies  became  mixed  in  a  hand  to  hand  fight.  The 
firing  of  the  infantry  ceased,  for  the  shot  told  on  friend 


63  THE    (>LD    GUARD. 

and  fo^  alike.  Tlie  soldiers  rested  on  their  arms  and 
gazed  with  astonishment  on  that  rearing,  phmging 
mass  from  which  was  heard  naught  but  fierce  shouts 
and  ringing  steel  as  blade  crossed  blade  in  the  fierce 
collision.  The  emperors  of  Russia  and  Germany  on 
one  height  and  Napoleon  on  another,  \vatched  with 
indescribable  anxiety  this  strange  encounter  between 
the  flower  of  their  troops.  At  length  the  Imperial 
Guard  of  the  enemy  gave  way.  The  bugles  of  the 
Old  Guard  then  rang  cheerily  out,  and  Yandame 
charging  anew,  infantry  and  cavalry  were  driven  in  dis- 
order almost  to  the  walls  of  Austerlitz.  Their  artillery 
and  standards  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  victors.  Na- 
poleon's joy  was  extreme  on  beholding  this  triumph 
of  his  Guard  over  that  of  the  Russian  emperor. 

The  two  sovereigns  had  tried  their  last  and  heaviest 
blow,  and  had  failed,  and  the  battle  though  unended, 
was  already  won.  ^Napoleon  had  not  merely  defeated, 
he  had  routed  and  nearly  annihilated  the  combined 
armies,  and  the  two  emperors  were  fugitives  on  the 
field.  This  wonderful  mind  had  thus  in  a  few  month'* 
ended  the  war.  Never  did  his  genius  shine  out  in 
greater  brilliancy.  "The  secrecy  and  rapidity  of  the 
march  of  so  vast  a  body  of  troops  across  France  ;  the 
semicircular  process  by  which  they  interposed  between 
Mack  and  the  hereditary  states  and  compelled  the 
Burrender  of  that  iinha}>py  chief  with  half  his  army ; 
the  precision  with  which  nearly  two  hundred  thou- 


SKILL  OF  NAPOIEON.  63 

sand  men  converging  from  the  shores  of  the  channel, 
the  coasts  of  Brest,  the  marshes  of  Holland,  and  the 
banks  of  the  Elbe  were  made  to  arrive  each  at  the 
hour  appointed  around  the  ramparts  of  Ulm,  the 
swift  advance  on  Yienna ;  the  subsequent  fan-like 
dispersion  of  the  army  to  overawe  the  hereditary 
states  their  sudden  concentration  for  the  decisive 
fight  at  Australitz ;  the  skill  displayed  in  that  contest 
itself  and  the  admirable  account  to  wdiich  he  turned 
the  fatal  cross  march  of  the  allied  sovereigns,  are  so 
many  proofs  of  military  ability  never  exceeded  even 
in  the  annals  of  his  previous  triumphs." 

It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  in  this  great  battle  the 
action  of  the  Imperial  Guard  was  confined  to  a  cavalry 
charge.  Napoleon  found  himself  so  inferior  in 
numerical  force,  that  he  did  not  husband  his  Guard, 
as  he  afterwards  did  in  Russia.  He  divided  it  up 
among  difierent  corps  of  the  army,  where  they 
furnished  an  example  during  all  that  bloody  day  to 
the  other  troops,  which  made  them  irresistible. 
Pressing  side  by  side  with  those  bear-skin  caps,  they 
knew  no  repulse.  In  the  previous  battles  the  Guard 
had  taken  little  part,  and  murmured  grievously  at 
their  idleness,  but  at  Austerlitz  they  w^ere  led  into 
the  thickest  of  the  fight.  Soult  had  under  him  ten 
battalions  of  the  guard.  Oudinot  and  Davoust  had 
ten  battalions  of  the  Grenadiers,  and  wild  work  did 
they  make  under   those  chieftains,  with  the  stub- 


64  THE    OLD    GUAKl). 

born  ranks  of  the  enemy.  Their  iirtillery  was  served 
tliroughout  the  battle,  with  terrible  rapidity  and  pre- 
cision. Forty  guns  were  at  the  disposal  of  the  Guard 
and  wherever  immediate  he'p  was  wanted,  thither 
they  were  hurried,  sending  desolation  through  the 
hostile  ranks. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  battle,  Kapoleon 
retained  near  him  only  the  Cavalry  of  the  Guard,  the 
mounted  Chasseurs,  the  Grenadiers  and  Mamelukes. 
These  were  for  a  reserve,  and  were  massed  together^ 
ranged  in  two  lines,  and  by  squadrons,  and  under  the 
command  of  Bessieres  and  Bapp.  Its  light  artillery, 
however,  did  fearful  execution.  It  was  every  where 
belching  forth  iire.  It  was  one  of  its  batteries  that 
played  upon  the  frozen  lake  over  which  a  column  was 
endeavoring  to  pass,  and  breaking  th§  ice  with  its 
shot,  sunk  two  thousand  in  the  water.  It  deployed 
with  such  rapidity,  that  its  movements  appeared 
more  like  cavalry  in  motion,  than  artillery,  and 
the  soldiers  jokingly  called  it  "  Hussars  on  wheels." 

THE  OLD   GUARD   AT   JENA. 

These  overwhelming  victories  made  the  allies 
desirous  of  peace,  which  was  soon  after  ratified  at 
Presbourg.  But  in  the  final  settlement  of  tlie  vexed 
questions  of  territory,  Prussia  felt  herself  so  aggrieved 
and  humbled,  tuat  she  rashly  flew  to  arms  befo'  e  the 


AT   JENA.  55 

French  armj'  bad  all  left  Germany.  An  immense 
force  was  assembled,  and  sbe,  single-banded,  resolved 
to  overthrow  the  Conqueror  of  Europe,  and  that  too 
with  the  army  of  the  latter  not  yet  beyond  the  Rhine 
Napoleon  beheld  with  sorrow  this  new  war  thrown 
upon  his  hands  just  as  he  had  finished  an  arduous 
campaign  and  completed  a  peace,  and  was  at  first 
depressed.  He  saw  only  new  dangers  arise,  as  old 
ones  were  removed.  But  in  the  excitement  of  pre- 
paration these  gloomy  thoughts  disappeared,  and  he 
rapidly  made  ready  to  meet  the  evils  that  threatened 
him.  The  Old  Guard  was  immediately  ordered  to 
return.  Transported  in  carriages,  of  which  there 
were  relays  the  whole  route,  they  moved  with  the 
speed  of  Cavalry,  and  in  a  few  days  were  again  be- 
yond the  Rhine.  A  hundred  and  eighty  thousand 
Germans  composed  the  army  of  Prussia.  I^apoleon 
had  a  larger  force  under  him,  to  say  nothing  of  the 
vast  makeweight  of  his  genius  against  the  imbecility 
of  his  adversary. 

The  battle  of  Jena,  fought  on  the  same  day  as  thai 
of  Auerstadt,  under  Davoust,  finished  the  Prussian 
king.  At  Jena,  Napoleon  had  before  him  a  force 
inferior  to  his  own,  although  he  supposed  the  whole 
Prussian  army  was  on  the  heights  of  Landgrafenberg, 
Up  the  steep  ascent  that  led  to  this  plateau,  already 
occupied  b}'  the  enemy,  he  resolved  to  lead  his  army. 
At  first  the  corps  of  Lannes  and  the  Old  Guard 


66  THE    OLD    GUARD. 

climbed  through  tlic  ravines  to  the  top.  The  Guard, 
four  thousand  strong,  were  then  ordered  to  encamp 
in  a  square,  and  in  the  centre  Napoleon  pitched  hie 
tent.  A  pile  of  stones  to  this  day  marks  the  spo: 
where  he  bivouacked,  and  the  people  of  the  vicinii}? 
have  changed  the  name  of  the  height  into  N^apoleons 
berg.  It  was  found  such  a  heavy  task  to  drag  the 
artillery  up  the  precipitous  sides  of  the  mountain,  that 
search  was  made  for  an  easier  ascent.  A  ravine  was 
discovered,  but  on  examination  it  proved  too  narrow 
to  admit  the  carriasres.  A  detachment  of  eno-ineers 
was  immediately  sent  to  cut  away  the  rock,  while  to 
cheer  on  the  men,  wearied  with  their  day's  march, 
Kapoleon  himself  held  a  torch  for  them  to  work  byv 
Late  at  night  he  ascended  the  heights  and  passed  into 
the  squares  of  the  old  Guard,  to  snatch  a  few  hours 
repose.  But  as  he  approached  their  dark  and  motion- 
less ranks  around  which  only  a  few  fires  were  kin- 
dled, he  cast  his  eyes  over  the  plateau  and  saw  the 
fires  of  the  enemy  covering  its  entire  extent  and  far- 
ther away  to  the  right  with  the  old  castle  of  Eckarts- 
berg  above  them,  those  of  the  Duke  of  Brunswick. 

In  the  morning  before  daylight,  he  was  up  and  the 
soldiers  stood  to  arms.  It  was  cold  and  chilly  and  a 
fog  enveloped  the  heights.  Escorted  by  torches 
which  shed  a  lurid  light  on  his  staff  and  on  the 
ranks,  he  went  along  their  front  haranguing  the  sol- 
diers, bidding  them  receive  the  Prussian  cavalry  with 


AN  INCIDENT.  57 

firmness,  and  promising  a  glorious  victory.  The 
shout  "  forward"  which  followed,  was  borne  to  the 
enemy's  camp. 

The  Old  Guard,  as  usual,  was  ordered  up  to 
close  the  battle.  As  it  advanced  the  whole  line 
threw  itself  impetuously  forward,  and  the  field  be- 
came covered  with  fugitives.  Out  of  the  70,000  who 
had  entered  the  battle,  "  not  a  corps  remained  en- 
tire." 

Advancing  rapidly,  the  grand  army  entered  Berlin 
on  the  28th.  For  the  first  time.  Napoleon  made  a 
triumphal  entry  into  a  conquered  capital.  Surrounded 
by  the  Old  Guard  dressed  in  rich  uniform,  he  passed 
through  the  city.  The  dismounted  chasseurs  and 
grenadiers  were  in  front,  the  horse  grenadiers  and 
chasseurs  in  the  rear — in  the  middle  rode  Berthier, 
Duroc,  Davoust,  and  Augereau,  while  in  the  centre 
of  this  last  group  in  an  open  space  left  by  himself, 
rode  Napoleon.  He,  and  that  Old  Guard  enfolding 
him  in  triumph  as  it  had  done  in  danger,  were  the 
centre  of  all  eyes. 

In  a  month  he  had  overturned  the  Prussian  mon- 
archy and  destroyed  its  boasted  armies — the  soldiers 
of  the  great  Frederic.  The  overthrow  of  an  empire 
was  no  longer  the  work  of  years.  Napoleon  dispatched 
it  in  a  few  weeks. 

Several  changes  liad  passed  over  the  Old  Guard 
during  the  last  two  years.  Augmented  as  it  had 
3*. 


58  THE    OLll    GUARD. 

been,  the  expense  of  keeping  it  up  was  found  to  ]>€ 
too  great.  Neither  would  the  mode  of  recruicing  it  by 
drawing  the  best  troops  from  tlie  line  answer  in  a  long 
and  destructive  wa.r.  It  took  away  too  many  good 
soldiers  and  tended  to  demoralize  the  army.  Tliere 
had  been  previously  created  a  corps  of  velites^  a  sort 
of  enlisted  volunteers  to  remedy  the  last  evil  by 
drawing  from  them  instead  cf  the  army.  But  this 
also  was  too  expensive,  and  ]N"apoleon  therefore  formed 
a  new  regiment  called  the  "fusilliers  of  th^d  Guard," 
the  soldiers  of  which  should  be  selected  from  the 
annual  contingent,  the  officers  alone  to  be  taken  from 
the  Guard. 

The  velites  were  required  to  be  young  men  of  fam- 
ily. This  was  to  obtain  a  certain  amount  of  educa- 
tion and  character,  with  which  is  usually  joined  a 
sense  of  honor,  so  important  in  a  corps.  Allured  by 
the  splendid  renown  of  this  new  conqueror,  dazzled 
by  his  amazing  victories,  young  aspirants  for  fame 
flocked  to  his  standard.  Among  them  were  many 
very  young  men.  One  of  these,  an  only  son  of  one 
of  the  most  opulent  families  of  the  province  in  which 
he  lived,  enlisted  at  the  age  of  eighteen.  Yery  fair 
and  delicate,  he  appeared  much  younger,  yet  he 
cheerfully  endured  the  fatigues  of  the  march,  and 
stood  firm  under  the  fire  of  the  enemy.  After  the 
fall  of  Berlin,  this  young  velite  marcl  ed  with  the 


deshj:rbieks.  59 

army  into  Yarso-vie  and  nobly  endured  the  hardshipa 
of  the  dreadful  whiter  campaign  that  followed. 

It  was  I^apoleon's  custom  in  campaign  to  halt  in 
the  open  cujntry  to  take  his  meals.  On  these  occa- 
sions he  always  had  a  dozen  or  sovelites  or  chasseurs 
in  a  circle  close  around  his  person,  to  prevent  any  one 
from  approaching.  One  day  during  a  halt,  as  his 
faithful  Mameluke,  Roustan,  was  preparing  his  coffee, 
he  saw  a  boyish  velite  posted  opposite  him.  Struck 
by  his  beauty  and  aristocratic  air,  he  called  him  and 
abruptly  asked,  "  "Who  put  you  in  my  Guard  ?" 

"  Your  majesty,"  replied  the  young  Desherbiers. 

"  I  do  not  understand  you,"  said  ITapoleon,  "  ex- 
plain yourself" 

"  Sire,  after  the  decree  of  your  majesty  which  per- 
mitted young  men  of  family  to  serve  in  your  Guard, 
I  fulfilled  the  requii  3d  conditions,  and  am  at  my 
post." 

"  Thou  art  a  little  fellow,"  said  the  Emperor,  chuck- 
ling him  under  the  chin. 

"  Sire,  I  perform  my  duties  the  same  as  the  largest 
in  the  regiment." 

"  Have  you  ever  been  under  fire  ?" 

"  Yes,  Sire,  at  the  passage  of  Berg." 

"That  was  warm  work.  AVere  not  you  a  little 
ifraid.     Ah,  ah,  you  blush,  I  have  hit  the  truth." 

"  Yes,  Sire,  I  own  it,  but  it  lasted  only  a  moment." 

"  Never  mind,  many  others  like  thee  have  been 


60  TUPJ    OLD    (iUARD. 

afraid  and  it  lasted  a  much  longer,  time."  After  a 
short  silence,  he  resumed,  "  thou  art  a  good  young 
man  and  like  the  rest  of  us,  thou  hast  paid  the  tribute. 
Thou  shalt  dine  with  me,  will  that  please  thee." 

"Certainly,  Sire  I"  cried  the  young  velite,  while  his 
eyes  sparkled  with  joy  at  the  honor  shown  him,  and 
placing  his  carbine  near  him  he  sat  down  opposite 
the  emperor.  Koustan  waited  on  liim  with  all  the 
deference  he  would  have  shown  to  a  general  officer. 
Desherbiers  took  the  slice  of  bacon  which  was  handed 
him  on  a  silver  plate  and  began  to  eat  with  the  vora- 
cious appetite  his  short  allowance  and  hard  duties 
had  given  him.  As  the  Mameluke  turned  the  wine 
into  a  silver  goblet,  l!^apoleon  said  smiling,  "  Ah,  ah, 
gar9on,  thou  likest  well  to  be  served  in  a  goblet,  so  that 
one  cannot  see  how  much  thou  drinkest.  I  wager  that 
thou  hast  it  refilled." 

"  Even  to  the  brim.  Sire,  the  better  to  drink  to  the 
health  of  your  Majesty." 

Napoleon  joked  him  incessantly  during  the  repast, 
but  the  young  velite's  replies  were  full  of  spirit  and 
point.  After  it  was  over,  he  asked  him  his  name, 
"  Guiyot  Desherbiers,  Sire,"  he  replied.  Kepeating 
the  name  over  after  him,  he  asked  him  if  he  was  re- 
lative to  a  counsellor  by  that  name  in  Paris,  not  long 
since  dead.  Being  answered  in  the  negative,  he 
udded,  "very  well,  conduct  yourself  properly  and  I 


61 

will  see  to  your  advancement  when  the  proper  time 
shall  come," 

The  yomig  velite  made  his  military  salute,  took  hin 
carbine  and  was  again  at  his  post. 

I  have  related  this  anecdote  to  show  on  what  terms 
Napoleon  was  with  his  guard,  and  also  the  means  he 
took  to  bind  the  brave  to  him.  In  the  spirit  and  non- 
chalance of  this  young  velite,  his  military  ambition 
and  education,  he  saw  at  a  glance  a  future  officer — 
one  of  those  granite  pillars  like  Lannes,  Ney,  Mas 
sena,  Davoust,  and  others  who  were  carrying  his 
victorious  eagles  over  Europe. 

After  his  return  from  this  campaign,  Napoleon 
w^ent  one  day  to  see  the  velites,  who,  having  been 
separated  from  the  chasseurs,  were  stationed  at  Ver- 
sailles. As  he  approached  the  squadron,  he  re- 
quested the  commander  to  order  young  Desherbiers 
from  the  ranks.  The  officer  replied  that  he  had  been 
passed  into  a  regiment  of  hussars,  and  was  now  in 
Spain. 

"  Why  was  he  put  there,  he  was  but  an  infant?" 

"  On  account  of  his  gallant  conduct  at  Friedland. 
He  slew  two  Russian  grenadiers  with  his  own  hand 
in  sight  of  the  whole  squadron." 

"  That  makes  a  difference,"  said  Napoleon,  "  it  is 
all  well." 

The  young  velite,  however,  never  returned,  he  was 
taken  by  the  guerillas,  who  put  him  to  death  with  t}i<& 


62  THE   OLD    GUARD. 

most  cruel  tortures.  He  bore  all  with  heroic  cour- 
age, and  with  his  last  breath  pronounced  the  namea 
of  jN'apoleon  and  a  fair  cousin  in  Paris. 

This  incident  illustrates  forcibly  the  remarkable 
memory  of  Kapoleon.  The  terrible  scenes  through 
which  lie  had  passed,  the  world  of  care  that  lay  on 
his  shoulders — plunged  as  he  was  into  the  very  vortex 
of  European  politics  and  engaged  with  designs  vast 
as  a  hemisphere — did  not  make  him  forget  the  young 
velite  who  had  dined  with  him  in  Poland.  This 
memory  of  the  commonest  soldier  if  he  had  shown 
any  remarkable  traits,  or  performed  any  deeds  of 
valor  had  a  wonderful  effect  on  the  troops.  Each 
one  felt  that  he  was  directly  under  the  eyes  of  his 
sovereign  and  commander.  He  saw  and  remembered 
all  that  was  done,  and  skill  and  daring  would  not  go 
unrewarded.  Slight  as  it  may  seem,  next  to  the 
veneration  his  genius  and  deeds  inspired,  this  was  the 
grand  secret  of  the  strange  power  he  had  over  his 
troops. 

The  chasseurs  always  surrounded  Napoleon's  per- 
son during  a  campaign.  It  was  necessary  they  should 
be  ready  at  a  moment's  warning,  for  the  movements 
of  this  ubiquitous  being  were  sudden  as  lightning. 
Wlien  starting  for  the  army  he  generally  departed 
from  St.  Cloud,  in  the  middle  of  the  night  or  at  on€ 
or  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  sometimes  made 
two   hundred   and  fifty  miles  in  twenty-four  hours 


NAPOLEON    IN    CAMPAIGN.  63 

Often  he  would  stop  for  several  hours,  to  dictate  de- 
spatches, but  at  the  words  "  allons,  the  carriage,  to 
horse,  gentlemen,"  there  was  "mounting  in  hot  haste,'' 
and  away  they  dashed,  in  a  headlong  gallop.  An 
aid-de-camp  was  always  stationed  on  horseback  at  the 
left  side  of  the  door  of  the  carriage  and  an  ecuyer 
at  the  right — the  officers  of  ordinance,  pages,  piqueurs 
holding  the  horses  by  the  head.  Roustan,  the  Mame- 
luke, and  the  domestics  followed  close  after  the  car- 
riage. Twenty-four  mounted  chasseurs  of  the  Guard 
completed  the  cortege,  which  swept  like  a  tempest 
along  the  road.  In  this  manner  he  would  go  twenty, 
thirty,  and  sometimes  nearly  forty  miles  without  halt- 
ing. When  he  stopped  all  flung  themselves  from  theii* 
horses  at  once,  except  the  chasseurs,  who  remained  in 
the  saddle.  But  if  he  left  the  carriage,  half  of  them 
immediately  dismounted,  and  fixing  their  bayonets  to 
their  carbines  presented  arms,  and  stood  facing  out- 
ward, around  him.  But  none  of  the  officers  left  their 
places  unless  he  permitted  it.  When  he  wished  to 
observe  the  enemy  through  his  glass,  the  number  of 
the  Guard  was  doubled  and  formed  in  a  square  about 
him.  This  square  adapted  itself  to  his  movements, 
enlarging  or  contracting  itself,  but  never  coming 
nearer  than  twenty-five  or  thirty  steps  to  his  person. 

When  he  distributed  favors  to  his  Guard,  such  as 
grades,  titles,  or  decorations,  unless  it  was  immedi- 
ately after  a  victory,  every  one  knew  that  some  serious 


64  'illK    OLD    GUARD. 

affair  was  on  hand.  The  review  of  the  regiments  of 
the  Guard  recently  arrived,  or  harangues  to  his  troops 
was  a  certain  prehide  to  an  approaching  battle 
These  harangues  always  produced  a  magical  effect: 
but  nothing  perhai)S  excited  so  wild  enthusiasm  as 
the  presentation  of  the  eagle  to  a  new  regiment  of 
the  Guard.  On  the  day  of  the  ceremony,  the  regiment 
with  its  arms  and  uniforms  in  perfect  order,  marched 
to  the  place  appointed  and  formed  into  three  close  col- 
umns, the  three  fronts  turning  towards  the  centre — ■ 
the  space  for  the  fourth  being  reserved  for  the  superior 
officers  and  the  suite  of  the  emperor.  As  soon  as  the 
latter  appeared,  the  officers  put  themselves  in  advance 
in  a  single  rank,  so  that  he  approached  alone.  By  the 
simplicity  of  his  dress  he  became  more  conspicuous, 
and  presented  a  striking  contrast  to  the  brilliant  uni- 
forms of  his  officers,  which  were  sprinkled  over  w^ith 
decorations  and  embi'oidered  with  silver  and  gold.  Af- 
ter receiving  the  orders  of  the  emperor,  the  prince  of 
"VVagram,  in  his  office  of  major-general,  dismounted, 
and  caused  the  colors  to  be  taken  from  their  case  and 
unfolded  before  the  troops.  The  drums  then  beat  the 
march,  and  Berthier  advancing,  took  the  eagle  from 
the  hands  of  the  officer  and  approached  several  steps 
towards  ISTapoleon.  The  latter  uncovering  himself 
saluted  the  banner;  and  removing  the  glove  frotn  his 
right  hand,  lifted  it  towards  the  eagle  and  in  a  solemn 
juid  distinct  voice  said,  "  Soldiers,  I  confide  to  you 


PRESENTATION  OF  THE  EAGLK.  65 

the  French  eagle ;  I  commit  it  to  your  valor  and  pa- 
triotism. It  will  be  your  guide  and  rallying  point. 
You  swear  never  to  abandon  it.  You  sw^ear  to  prefer 
death  to  the  dishonor  of  seeing  it  torn  from  your 
hands.  You  swear  it  V*  The  last  words  were  pro- 
nounced with  sudden  energy,  and  in  a  moment  the 
swords  of  the  officers  shook  in  the  air,  and  "  Yes,  yes 
we  swear  it,"  rolled  in  one  prolonged  shout  along  the 
lines.  The  bands  of  music  then  struck  in  and  "  Vive 
V  Eiiipereur^^  was  repeated  in  frenzied  accents  over 
the  field. 

Tn  1S06,  the  Guard  was  composed  of  15,656  men-. 


CHAPTER  lY. 

Creadon  of  a  regiment  of  Polish  Liineere— Tiie  Old  Guard  at  Eylau— Caa> 
paign  of  1807 — ^Treaty  of  Tilsit — Tlie  interview  of  Napoleon  witli  Alexander— 
His  influence  over  him — The  Old  Guard  in  Spain — Miraculous  despatch  of  Na 
poleon  when  he  heai'd  of  the  confederacy  in  Germany  against  liim — His  rapid 
ride. 

TiiE  utter  overthrow  of  the  Prussian  armies  at 
Jena  and  Auerstadt  did  not  wring  a  peace  from  the 
king.  Russia  had  formed  an  alliance  with  him,  and 
her  troops  were  already  on  the  march  for  the  frontiers 
of  his  kingdom.  To  meet  this  new  enemy,  Napoleon 
pushed  on  into  Poland,  where  he  designed  to  take  up 
his  winter  quarters.  This  unhappy  country  received 
him  with  open  arms,  hoping,  through  his  instrumen- 
tality, once  more  to  have  a  national  existence.  At 
the  outset  a  Polish  guard  of  honor  was  formed,  which, 
together  with  the  squadron  of  the  Imperial  Guard, 
w-as  to  look  to  the  security  of  the  emperor's  person. 
Its  lidelity  and  zeal  suggested  to  Napoleon  the  idea 
of  incorporating  into  the  Old  Guard  a  corps  of  light 
cavalry,  con: posed  entirely  of  Poles.     A  decree  tc 


ITS  PAINFUL  MAKCH.  67 

that  elFect  was  issued,  and  four  squadrons  of  lancere 
were  joined  to  the  cavalry. 

Before  the  winter  set  in  there  was  a  short  cam- 
paign, in  which  the  Russians  were  forced  to  retire, 
but  the  roads  were  in  such  a  horrible  state  that  tlie 
pursuit  was  slow  and  painful.  The  cavahy  horses 
sunk  up  to  their  knees,  and  could  only  move  on  a 
walk.  The  artillery  stuck  in  the  mud  and  snow,  and 
could  not  be  pushed  forward.  Kapoleon  put  forth 
prodigious  efforts  with  the  Old  Guard,  to  strike  a  de- 
cisive blow.  These  veterans,  covered. with  sleet  and 
snow,  waded  knee  deep  through  the  mud,  performing 
the  most  painful  marches  with  cheerfulness,  because 
their  leader  was  in  their  midst.  Alternate  snow^ 
freezing  weather,  and  thaws,  exhausted  their  strength 
and  benumbed  their  limbs.  Their  bivouacs  at  night 
were  either  on  frozen  ground  or  in  fields  made  soft  by 
the  melted  snow. 

The  pursuit  ended  at  J^aiselle,  which  the  enemy 
suddenly  evacuated.  iNTapoleon  entered  a  cabin  to 
pass  the  night,  and  as  one  was  cleaning  out  the  straw, 
he  uncovered  a  corpse  which  some  faithful  hand  had 
concealed.  The  next  day  he  began  to  retrace  his 
steps  to  Yarsovie,  and  took  up  his  winter  quarters. 

The  two  armies  remained  inactive  till  near  the  close 
of  December,  w^hen  the  Russian  general  resolved  to 
surprise  l!^apoleon  by  a  winter  march  ;  and,  cutting 
his  line  in  two,  separate  the  two  wings.     The  latter 


68  THE    OLD   GUAKl). 

penetrating  his  design,  concentrated  his  troops  and 
advanced  to  give  him  battle.     Thej  met  at  Eylau. 

I  shall  not  attempt  a  new  description  of  this  great 
butchery,  in  which  the  conquerors  gained  but  a  barren 
victory.  The  Old  Guard  at  the  commencement  was 
placed  in  the  cemetery  of  Eylau,  into  which  the  enemy's 
balls  w^ere  soon  crashing  with  murderous  effect. 

The  attack  of  Angereau,  and  the  terrible  over- 
throw of  his  division,  brought  on  one  of  those  crises 
which  compelled  Kapoleon  to  launch  his  grand  re- 
serve, the  Old  Guard,  upon  the  enemy.  E"othing 
could  have  been  farther  from  his  wishes  than  to  com- 
promise his  reserve  so  early  in  the  battle.  But  the 
danger  was  imminent.  A  column  of  Kussian  grena- 
diers following  up  the  flight  of  Angereau  had  pene- 
trated into  the  cemetery  where  Napoleon  stood,  sur- 
rounded only  by  a  hundred  of  his  personal  guard. 
Hour  after  hour  he  had  stood  unmoved  while  the 
cannon  balls  were  crashing  on  the  steeple  and  walls 
of  the  church  above  him.  Without  changing  a  fea- 
ture he  had  seen  the  annihilation  of  Angereau's  divi- 
sion, and  now  with  equal  composure  beheld  three  or 
four  thousand  grenadiers  almost  at  his  feet.  Order- 
ing his  personal  Guard  to  advance  and  check  them, 
he  called  up  a  battalion  of  the  foot-guard  a  little  in 
the  rear.  There  were  six  battalions  that  had  taken 
no  part  in  the  contest  except  to  stand  and  see  theii 
ranks  rent  by  shot.     With  joy,  therefore,  they  8a\v 


CUARGE  AT  KYLAU.  69 

a  prospect  of  mingling  in  the  strife  Two  battalions 
disputed  the  honor  of  charging  the  Kussians.  The  fii'st 
in  order  marched  forwani,  and  without  stopping  to  fire, 
overthrew  the  victorious  grenadiers  with  the  bayonet. 
In  the  meantime  the  terrible  cavalry  charge  of 
Murat  was  preparing.  Seventy  squadrons,  or  more 
than  fourteen  thousand  horse,  in  all  the  splendor 
of  battle  array,  swept  full  on  the  Russian  centre, 
stormed  over  their  batteries  and  breaking  the  first 
line  of  infantry  pushed  on  to  the  second,  driving  it 
back  to  the  wood,  where  a  battery  of  heavy  artillery 
at  last  checked  their  victorious  advance.  In  tlie 
meantime  the  broken  first  line  rallied  and  began  to 
hem  in  Murat.  It  was  then  that  General  Lepee,  a 
brave  and  heroic  officer,  was  ordered  to  charge  with 
the  horse  grenadiers  of  the  Guard.  The  heavy  and 
iron  clad  squadrons  galloped,  shouting  to  the  rescue 
of  their  comrades.  Riding  through  the  groups  of 
infantry  that  had  rallied,  they  smote  down  every- 
thing in  their  passage.  The  close  fire  of  the  artillery 
and  charges  of  infantry  made  horrible  gaps  in  their 
ranks,  and  around  them  shook  as  wild  and  disordered 
a  field  as  the  wintry  heavens  ever  looked  upon,  but 
nothing  could  arrest  their  strong  gallop.  Compact 
as  iron — and  as  the  thunder  cloud  when  rent  by  the 
lightning  closes  swiftly  again,  so  did  those  stern 
squadrons  close  over  every  rent  made  by  the  destruc- 
tive batteries,  and  in  one  black  mass  crossed  and  re* 


70  THE    OLD    GUARD. 

crossed  the  field  in  every  direction.  Thioiigli  tlie 
driving  snow  occasional  glimpses  of  it  was  got  hy 
Napoleon,  and  with  joy  he  saw  it  unbroken  sweep  the 
field  in  tlie  face  of  the  enemy. 

Murat  was  relieved  and  able  to  re-form  his  cavalry 
and  bring  it  off  in  good  order,  while  the  Russian  centre 
was  dreadfully  shattered.  General  Dohlman  comman- 
der of  the  mounted  chasseurs  of  the  Guard,  fell  not  fif- 
teen steps  from  the  Russian  line.  One  of  the  chasseurs 
seeing  his  general  under  the  bayonets  of  the  enemy 
spurred  recklessly  forward  in  the  fire,  and  dismounting, 
lifted  him  upon  his  horse.  Surrounded  by  Russian 
hussars,  he  in  turn  received  several  wounds,  one  of 
which  dislocated  his  arm.  He  was  about  to  fall  over- 
powered by  numbers,  when  one  of  his  comrades,  a 
chasseur  of  his  squadron,  seeing  his  peril  fought  his 
way  up  to  him  and  relieved  him.  By  the  boldness  of 
these  two  chasseurs,  their  general  was  enabled  to  get 
near  the  French  lines  before  he  died,  and  was  thna 
spared  the  mortification  of  seeing  himself  a  prisoner 
of  the  enemy.  All  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  the 
Guard  on  this  murderous  day  sustained  the  reputa- 
tion gained  in  a  hundred  battles,  and  Napoleon  loaded 
it  with  eulogiums.  A  Lieutenant  Morlay,  *a  color 
bearer  of  the  1st  battalion  of  the  1st  regiment  of  foot 
grenadiers,  had  the  staff  of  his  colors  broken  above 
and  below  his  hand  by  the  bursting  of  a  shell  which 
killed   an   officer   and  wounded   five   of  his   guard. 


AFFKR    THE    BATTLE.  73 

Hut  instead  of  showing  surprise,  he  coolly  took  uji 
the  colors  and  fixing  the  staft*  to  a  musket,  carried 
them  into  the  battle.  A  captain  of  the  mounted 
grenadiers  of  the  Guard,  mortally  wounded  lay  ex- 
tended on  the  snow,  when  some  of  his  comrades  com- 
ing up,  wished  to  remove  him.  "Leave  me  alone, 
my  friends,"  he  said,  "  I  am  content  since  we  have 
the  victory,  and  I  die  on  the  field  of  battle." 

We  will  pass  over  the  heart-rending  scene  the 
snow-ccvered  field  presented  next  moi-ning.  l^apo- 
leon  had  never  in  his  bloody  career  beheld  such  a 
spectacle,  and  he  was  more  unnerved  than  in  the  most 
perilous  crisis  of  the  battle.  One  of  his  generals 
seeing  his  agitation,  endeavored  to  lessen  the  evil  by 
saying  it  was  exaggerated,  and  spoke  of  the  new 
glory  the  victory  would  give  him.  "  To  a  father,"  re- 
plied IS'apoleon,  "  who  loses  his  childi-en,  victory  has 
no  charms — when  the  heart  speaks  glory  itself  is  an 
illusion."  The  enemies  of  Bonaparte  receive  such 
manifestations  of  feeling  on  his  part,  with  a  smile  of 
incredulity,  declaring  it  impossible  that  a  man  whose 
whole  career  was  marked  with  blood,  and  to  whom 
the  desolation  and  horrors  of  a  battle-field  were  ac- 
customed spectacles,  could  ever  utter  such  a  senti- 
ment in  sincerity.  To  other  military  chieftains  they 
award  all  the  kindly  and  noble  feelings  belonging  to 
men  in  civic  life.  The  scenes  of  slauo:hter  throusrb 
which  they  pass  do  not  make  wild  beasts  of  them. 


72  'J'lIK    OLD    GUARD. 

The  English  generals  in  carrying  out  the  aggressive 
policy  of  their  government,  and  Russian  and  Austrian 
commanders  are  endowed  with  the  feelings  common 
to  our  race,  and  yet  the  terrible  battle  which  had 
heaped  the  snow  plains  of  Eylau  with  dead  bodies  was 
fought  in  a  defensive  war  on  the  part  of  I^apoleon, 
Prussia  declared  war  against  him,  and  Russia  with- 
out the  shadow  of  a  reason,  became  her  ally,  and  yet 
how  few  in  this  country  ever  think  of  blaming  the 
real  criminals  in  the  affair,  but  on  the  contrary,  heap 
on  Napoleon  the  sin  of  it  all. 

But  independent  of  this,  such  a  sentiment  was 
natural  to  any  man,  even  the  most  abandoned  of  our 
race.  No  wretch  is  so  hardened  as  not  to  love  even 
the  beast  that  has  carried  him  faithfully  and  nobly 
through  imminent  perils,  or  the  dog  which  has  watched 
and  defended  him.  Much  less  could  a  commander 
like  Napoleon  look  on  the  bloody  ranks,  stiff  in  death, 
that  had  stood  like  walls  of  iron  around  him  the  day  be- 
fore, without  a  heart  full  of  grief.  His  brave  Guard 
too,  that  carried  him  in  its  arms,  and  which  would 
not  see  him  taken  while  a  single  man  remained  aliv^e 
to  strike  a  blow  for  him,  had  left  its  dead  everywhere. 
He  had  lost  his  defenders,  those  who  cherished  him 
in  their  hearts  while  living,  and  murmured  his  name 
in  dying,  and  he  felt  like  one  robbed  of  his  treasures 
that  he  had  hoarded  with  so  much  care — of  valiant 
hearts  that  beat  but  for  him.     It  required  a  heart  of 


GRIEF    OF    NAPOLKoX.  73 

itone  to  look  on  those  gallant  men,  mangled  and  torn, 
and  heaped  in  thousands  over  the  blood-stained  snow 
and  not  be  profoundly  moved.  Napoleon  was  over- 
cinne  bj  it.  Tlie  excitement  of  the  battle  was  over, 
the  victory  won,  and  the  feelings  of  our  common  na- 
ture  triumphed  over  the  stern  will  of  the  chieftain  and 
the  pride  of  the  conqueror.  Re  could  not  conceal 
his  emotion,  it  exhibited  itself  even  in  his  bulletin. 

The  white  uniform  had  been  introduced  into  many 
of  the  regiments,  but  the  contrast  it  presented  to  the 
blood  stains  of  those  who  wore  it,  so  shocked  him 
that  he  immediately  ordered  it  to  be  lain  aside  by 
the  survivors,  and  blue  to  be  used  instead,  cost  what  it 
might.  He  rode  over  the  field  to  look  after  the 
wounded,  and  sent  out  all  his  domestics  to  relieve 
them,  while  the  chasseurs  of  the  Guard  took  their 
horses  and  helped  bring  them  into  camp. 

The  rest  of  the  winter  and  spring  passed  in  quiet- 
ness, but  in  the  beginning  of  June  hostilities  recom- 
menced, and  IS'apoleon  started  in  pursuit  of  the  ene- 
my. At  the  bloody  battles  of  Heilsberg,  the  Young 
Guard  astonished  the  army  by  its  intrepidity  and  des- 
perate courage.  The  battle  of  Friedland  followed, 
and  the  allied  armies  were  rolled  into  the  AUe.  Na- 
poleon spared  his  Guard  in  this  battle  and  at  night 
bivouacked  on  the  field  amid  its  squares.  The  sol- 
diers were  angry  that  they  had  not  been  allowed  to 
take  part  in  the  victory,  and  one  of  its  intrepid  lead 
4 


74  THE    OLD    GUARD. 

ere  said,  "the  Guard  was  treated  like  beasts  in  being 
compelled  to  remain  with  their  arms  crossed  all  day." 

If  Napoleon  had  shown  himself  a  great  general  in 
this  campaign,  he  exhibited  no  less  the  skillfnl  diplo- 
matist in  bringing  about  a  peace.  He  first  met 
Alexander  on  a  raft  moored  in  the  middle  of  the 
Niemen,  while  the  opposing  banks  were  lined  with 
tlie  hostile  armies,  w^hicli  no  sooner  saw  the  two  em- 
perors embrace,  than  they  rent  the  air  with  shouts. 
In  a  few  days  Alexander  was  established  in  Napo 
leon's  household  and  ate  at  his  table.  The  poor  king 
of  Prussia  was  neglected  and  humbled.  The  two 
monarchs  rode  together  and  sat  hour  after  hour  in 
private  tete-a-tete,  until  Alexander  became  completely 
fascinated.  He  reviewed  the  Old  Guard  with  Napo- 
leon, and  was  struck  with  their  martial  bearing  and 
perfect  discipline,  and  lavished  on  them  high  enco- 
niums.  The  Guard  in  return  shouted,  "  Yive  Aleos- 
ander^  Vive  Napoleon?'' 

Days  passed  away  in  this  social  intercourse  and  each 
succeeding  one  found  the  Russian  monarch  more  and 
more  captivated.  On  returning  from  these  interviews 
he  would  exclaim,  "  What  a  great  man,  what  a  genius, 
what  extensive  views,  what  a  captain,  what  a  statesman  J 
Had  I  but  known  him  sooner  how  many  faults  he  might 
have  spared  mte,  what  great  things  we  might  have 
accomplished  together."  Alexander  was  ambitious 
and  Napoleon  knew  it.     He  therefore  opened  to  him 


NAPOLEON    AND    ALEXANDER,  75 

plans  of  empire,  pointed  where  new  realms  and  glory 
could  be  won,  and  sketched  plans  so  vast  and  yet  so 
feasible,  that  the  young  emperor  seemed  to  have 
opened  his  eyes  on  a  new  world.  jN'apoleon  convinced 
him  that  alliance  with  England  and  Austria  was  ruin 
ons,  while  should  they  two  combine,  they  could  dic- 
tate terms  to  half  the  world.  The  clear  and  masterlj? 
manner  in  which  he  sketched  the  perfidious  policy 
of  his  foes,  the  generous  offers  he  made  to  him  a  con- 
quered enemy,  and  the  vast  sphere  he  pointed  out  to 
the  young  aspirant  after  glory  soon  brought  about  the 
end  he  was  after.  A  treaty  was  made  with  Prussia 
which  stripped  that  unfortunate  monarch  of  a  large 
part  of  his  kingdom.  Another  treaty  was  concluded 
with  Kussia.  Lastly,  a  secret  treaty  or  alliance  offen- 
sive and  defensive,  not  to  be  published  till  both  con- 
sented to  it,  was  signed,  by  which  the  two  monarchs 
■were  to  make  common  cause,  by  sea  and  land,  and 
to  declare  war  against  England  if  she  would  not  sub- 
scribe to  the  conditions  of  the  two  open  treaties.  This 
was  the  famous  peace  of  Tilsit. 

In  1801  the  Guard  counted  15,361  men. 

On  the  conquest  of  Spain,  in  1808,  the  Imperial 
Guard  was  rarely  called  into  action.  It  however  per 
formed  some  extraordinary  marches.  In  a  rash  attack 
by  Lefebvre  Desmouettes  with  the  chasseurs  of  the 
Guard,  some  sixty  of  the  latter  were  taken  prisoners, 
which  annoyed  Napoleon  much.    They  were  his  favor 


76  THE    OLD    GUARD. 

ite  troops,  and  he  could  not  bear  to  have  them  in 
the  hands  of  the  enemy.  He  always  wore  their  uni 
form  in  battle,  and  at  St.  Helena,  when  about  to  die. 
he  put  it  on,  and  was  laid  in  state  in  it  after  his  death. 
While  prosecuting  his  march  from  Benavente, 
pressing  eagerly  after  the  English,  a  courier  arrived 
from  Paris  bringing  news  of  the  union  of  Austria  to 
t?ie  European  confederacy  against  him,  and  the  mus- 
tering of  her  armies.  On  receiving  the  courier's 
package,  he  ordered  a  bivouac  fire  to  be  kindled,  and 
sitting  down,  was  soon  lost  in  thought,  while  the  snow 
fell  thick  and  fast  about  him.  His  plans  were  in- 
stantly taken.  On  the  spot  he  wrote  an  order  for  the 
raising  of  80,000  conscripts  in  France.  He  then  pro- 
ceeded thoughtfully  to  Astorga,  where  he  remained  two 
days,  writing  despatches.  Every  hour  was  occupied,  his 
secretaries  were  put  on  one  of  those  strains  he  in  great 
emergencies  demanded.  Momentous  affairs  claimed 
his  attention.  His  armies  in  Spain,  France,  and  all 
Europe,  lay  like  a  map  in  his  mighty  mind,  and  he 
grasped  the  whole.  To  the  different  divisions  of  his 
army  in  Spain  he  sent  despatches  to  guide  their 
conduct,  he  sketched  the  course  to  be  followed  in 
pursuing  the  English,  issued  directions  for  regulating 
the  internal  affairs  of  the  kingdom,  and  organized 
his  plan  for  the  overthrow  of  the  coalition  against 
him.  He  stopped  five  days  longer  at  YalJadolid,  em- 
ployed in  writing  despatches  to  every  part  of  Europe. 


A    WILD    RroE.  77 

[n  these  five  days  h  3  accomplished  the  work  of  ? 
year,  and  having  finished  all,  he  mounted  his  horso 
and  posted  like  a  flash  of  lightning  for  Paris.  In 
the  first  five  hours  he  rode  the  astonishing  distance  of 
eighty-five  iniles^  or  seventeen  miles  an  hour.  He  then 
took  carriage  while  the  Imperial  Guard  marched 
swiftly  towards  Germany  to  meet  the  army  he  was  to 
concentrate  there.  This  wild  gallop  of  eighty-five 
miles  was  long  remembei-ed  by  the  inhabitants  of  the 
towns  through  which  the  smoking  cavalcade  of  the 
emperor  passed.  Relays  of  horses  had  been  provided 
along  the  road,  and  no  sooner  did  he  arrive  at  one 
post  than  he  flung  himself  on  a  fresh  horse,  and  sink- 
ing the  spurs  in  his  flanks,  dashed  away  in  headlong 
speed.  Few  who  saw  that  short  figure  surmounted 
with  a  plain  chapeau,  sweep  by  on  that  day,  ever  for- 
got it.  His  pale  face  was  calm  as  marble,  but  his  lips 
were  compressed  and  his  brow  knit  like  iron,  while 
his  flashing  eye  as  he  leaned  forward,  still  jerking 
impatiently  at  the  bridle  as  if  to  accelerate  his  speed, 
seemed  to  devour  the  distance.  I^oone  spoke,  but  the 
whole  suite  strained  forward  in  the  breathless  race. 
The  gallant  chasseurs  never  had  had  so  long  and 
wild  a  ride  before. 

It  is  not  probable  that  N'apoleon  kept  up  this  loco- 
motive speed  for  eighty-five  miles  in  order  to  gain 
two  or  three  hours  of  time.  No  battle  was  pend- 
ing which  an  hour's  delay  might  lose ;  and  whether 


Y8  TirE    OLD   GUARD. 

he  reached  Paris  at  five  o'clock  ov  eight,  C3iild 
make  no  difference  in  his  plans.  The  truth  is, 
it  was  the  only  outlet  he  had  tu  his  stormy  feelings. 
While  occupied  with  his  army  in  Spain,  he  had  been 
suddenly  told  that  a  fearful  coalition  was  arming 
against  him  in  the  north  of  Europe.  Colossus  as  he 
was,  he  could  not  but  be  painfully  excited  at  the  mag- 
nitude of  the  dano-ers  that  threatened  him.  He  saw 
the  motive  which  prompted  this  sudden  blow  and  felt 
that  it  might  prove  decisive.  He  could  not  take  his 
veteran  troops  on  which  he  relied,  from  Spain,  and  he 
must  raise  a  new  army.  The  seven  days  he  spent  in 
writing  despatches,  after  the  amval  of  the  courier 
from  Paris,  were  seven  days  of  such  mental  labor  as 
ordinary  men  never  dream  of.  In  that  time  he  per- 
formed the  w^ork  of  a  year  to  most  men.  The  vast 
field  over  which  his  mind  labored,  the  complicated 
and  vital  afl'airs  that  claimed  his  attention,  the  thou- 
sand objects,  each  of  which  was  sufficient  to  task  the 
strongest  mind,  taken  up  and  disposed  of  in  these  few 
days,  and  the  plan  of  a  great  campaign  marked  out 
for  himself,  caused  a  mental  strain  that  brought  his 
physical  system,  firm  and  iron-like  as  it  was,  into  such 
a  state  of  nervous  excitement,  that  this  fierce  ride 
relieved  him.  Physical  exhaustion  was  medicine  to 
him,  for  it  took  the  fire  from  his  brain. 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE    YOUNG     GUAKT). 

Organization  of  the  Young  Guard — Campaign  of  1809 — Extraordinary  eserticns  ol 
Napoleon— His  rapid  successes— Bombarding  of  Vienna,  and  first  courtship  of 
Maria  Louisa — Disgrace  of  a  surgeon — The  Old  Guard  at  Aspern — Its  last  cliarge 
—Incident  showing  how  Napoleon  punished  the  least  neglect  of  his  Guard — The 
Guard  at  Wagram — Sublime  spectacle — Its  artillery  heads  Macdonald's  charge — 
Difficulty  of  appreciating  the  conduct  of  the  Guard. 

Austria,  as  we  have  seen,  with  a  perfidy  that  be- 
longs to  her  national  character,  no  sooner  found  'Na- 
poleon  involved  in  the  Spanish  war,  and  the  elite  of 
his  army  there,  than  she  resolved  to  violate  her  sacred 
treaty  and  drive  the  French  troops  that  still  remained 
m  Germany,  over  the  Ehine.  The  court  thought  to 
take  its  hated  foe  unawares,  and  so  it  had,  forgetting 
the  celerity  of  his  movements  and  the  rapid  develop- 
ment of  his  plans. 

No  sooner  had  he  arrived  in  Paris,  than  he  des- 
patched Berthier  to  Germany  to  take  charge  of  and 
concentrate  his  troops  that  were  scattered  from  the 
Alps  to  the  Baltic.  In  the  meantime  he  organized 
eight  new  regiments  to  augment  the  infantry  of  hia 
guard,  two  of  tirailleurs  grenadiers,  two  of  tirailleurs 


80  THE   OLD   GUAKD. 

chasseui-s,  and  two  of  conscrij^t  chasseurs,  in  all  60iA» 
men. 

These  were  called  the  Young  Guard,  although  in 
corporated  with  the  Old.    Together  they  formed  an 
imposing  body  of  troops.     On  almost  every  breast  of 
the  Old  Guard  glittered  the  star  of  the  Legion  of 
Honor,  won  by  bravery  on  the  field  of  battle. 

Every  thing  being  ready  the  troops  were  sent  by 
forced  marches  to  the  Rhine.  On  the  12th  of  April, 
Napoleon  set  out  from  St.  Cloud,  and  in  six  days  ar- 
rived at  head-quarters.  It  was  high  time  he  had  come, 
for  Berthier  had  done  nothing  but  commit  blunders, 
and  but  for  the  tardiness  of  the  allies,  the  French  army 
w^ould  have  been  driven  across  the  Rhine  before  hia 
arrival.  It  was  scattered  over  forty  leagues — in  forty- 
eight  hours  it  was  concentrated  in  the  space  of  ten 
leagues  and  ready  to  deliver  its  terrible  blows.  The 
continental  armies  opposed  to  N^apoleon  have  been 
much  blamed  for  their  slow  and  cautious  advances, 
when  the  position  of  the  French  army  was  such  that 
by  celerity  of  movement  they  could  have  inflicted 
heavy  disasters  upon  it.  But  military  critics  forget 
that  !N"apoleon's  tactics  completely  baffled  the  oldest 
generals  of  the  continent.  'Nine  tenths  of  the  time  their 
combinations  were  broken  up  before  the  battle  took 
place.  This  wizard,  by  his  rapid  movements,  auda- 
cious advances,  and  bold  and  daring  attacks,  so  con- 
fused them,  that  they  never  knew  when  he  was  strong 


A.TTACK  ON  QUEUES.  81 

or  weak.  Tlicy  were  afraid  to  compromise  their 
forces  hy  any  bold  push,  for  whenever  they  did, 
he  came  thundering  on  their  flanks.  iSTo  wonder 
they  became  careful,  for  if  they  attempted  a  surprise 
or  skilful  manoeuvre  as  at  Austerlitz,  they  found  it 
was  just  what  their  imperial  foe  desired.  In  fact, 
such  was  his  eagle  glance  and  far-reaching  intellect, 
that  it  was  impossible  for  the  Austrians  or  Prussians 
to  attempt  a  manoeuvre  in  his  presence  without  getting 
his  victorious  squadrons  on  their  flanks.  They  had 
so  often  suflered  from  these  flank  attacks,  that  the 
precautions  they  took  to  avoid  them  were  frequently 
ludicrous,  and  crippled  all  their  actions. 

The  Emperor  arrived  on  the  night  of  the  ITth — on 
the  19th  the  battle  of  Abensberg  was  fought  which 
broke  the  enemy's  centre — the  21st,  he  attacked  the 
enemy  at  Landshut,  and  put  him  to  flight.  On  the 
22d  he  was  victorious  at  Echmuhl,  and  pushed  the 
Austrians  over  the  Danube,  which  they  had  to  cross 
under  the  tremendous  fire  of  the  batteries  of  the  Old 
Guard. 

On  the  23d,  Ratisbon  was  carried  by  assault  and 
the  enemy  forced  to  make  a  rapid  retreat.  One  hun- 
dred pieces  of  cannon,  forty  standards,  fifty  thousand 
prisoners,  tliree  thousand  baggage  Avagons,  were  the 
extraordinary  fruits  of  these  five  days'  labor.  It  re- 
quired, however,  a  constitution  of  iron  to  stand  the 
strain  he  put  on  himself  at  this  time.  Kiding  six 
4^ 


82  TllK    OLD    GUARD. 

days  in  succession  to  reach  the  army,  he  immediately 
eet  to  work  concentrating  it^  and  preparing  for  battle, 
It  is  said  that  the  letters  to  his  officers  during  the 
next  five  days  would  have  made  a  vohime.  He  was 
on  horseback  or  dictating  letters  eighteen  hours  out 
of  every  twenty-four  during  the  whole  time.  He  out- 
stripped his  own  saddle  horses  sent  on  as  rehiys,  and 
broke  down  those  of  the  king  of  Bavaria,  his  ally,  and 
yet  when  his  staff  and  assistants  were  completely 
knocked  up,  he  would  sit  calmly  down  and  dictate 
despatches  half  the  night.  He  seemed  every  where 
during  these  five  days,  and  his  blows  fell  with  the 
rapidity  and  power  of  thunderbolts. 

After  the  taking  of  Ratisbon  he  issued  a  proclama- 
tion to  his  troops  in  which  after  recounting  their  vic- 
tories he  promised  in  one  month  to  bring  them  under 
the  walls  of  Vienna.  In  just  one  month  he  was  there, 
although  to  accomplish  it  he  had  to  wade  through 
tlie  terrible  slaughter  of  Ebersberg. 

He  was  at  Landshut  the  26th  of  April,  where  he 
found  the  Old  Guard  which  had  just  arrived  from 
Spain.  In  the  beginning  of  January  it  was  at  Astor- 
ga  at  the  foot  of  the  Gallician  mountains — on  the 
26th  of  April  it  was  in  the  heart  of  the  Austrian 
empire,  having  performed  one  of  the  most  extraordi- 
nary marches  on  record.  lN"apoleon's  eye  flashed  with 
delight  when  he  saw  once  more  his  favorite  corps  of 
old  veterans,  twenty  thousand  strong,  fresh  from  the 


THE    COLUMN    OF    GRANITE.  83 

battle-fields  of  Spain,  defile  before  liim.  The  Guard 
was  no  less  delighted  to  see  its  chieftain,  and  rent 
the  air  witli  shouts  of  "  Vive  V  EmpereurP 

Arriving  before  Vienna,  he  placed  his  batteries, 
and  in  ten  hours  threw  ten  thousand  shells  into  the 
city.  The  crash  of  falling  dwellings,  the  bursting  of 
shells,  and  the  ascending  flames  streaking  the  hea- 
vens in  every  quarter,  made  the  night  of  May  12th 
one  long  to  be  remembered  by  the  Yiennese. 

At  this  time  the  young  princess,  Maria  Louisa,  the 
future  bride  of  the  Emperor,  lay  sick  in  the  imperial 
palace,  and  unable  to  be  removed.  This  being  com- 
municated to  INTapoleon,  he  ordered  the  direction  of 
the  batteries  to  be  changed ;  and  thus  amid  general 
devastation  and  death,  she  remained  unharmed.  This 
was  the  first  introduction  of  himself  to  the  princess, 
and  it  must  be  confessed  it  was  wild  and  stern  enough. 
"  It  was  by  the  thunders  of  artillery  and  the  flaming 
light  of  bombs  across  the  sky,  that  his  first  addresses 
were  made,  the  first  accents  of  tenderness  were  from 
the  deep  booming  of  mortars  which  but  for  his  inter- 
position would  have  consigned  her  father's  palace  to 
destruction." 

Vienna  fell,  and  ISTapoleon  with  a  part  of  his  Guard 
took  up  his  quarters  at  Schoenbrun. 

While  here  an  incident  occurred  which  showed 
with  what  severity  the  least  license  on  the  part  of  his 
Old  Guard  was  visited.     One  of  its  chief  surgeons 


84  THE    OLD    GUARD. 

was  lodged  in  the  suburbs  of  the  city,  at  the  house 
of  an  aged  canoness,  and  near  rehitive  of  Prince 
Lichtenstein. 

One  day  having  taken  too  much  wine,  he  wrote 
her  an  extravagant  and  impertinent  letter  in  which 
he  introduced  the  name  of  Lefebvre  in  a  disgraceful 
manner.  She  immediately  threw  herself  on  the  pro- 
tection of  General  Aiidreossy,  whom  Kapoleon  iiad 
niade  governor  of  the  city,  and  to  wliom  she  sent  the 
letter  she  had  received.  The  governor  forwarded 
l)oth  her  letter  and  tlie  surgeon's  to  the  emperor. 
The  latter  immediately  sent  an  order  for  the  snrgeon 
to  appear  on  parade  the  following  morning.  The 
next  morning  as  N^apoleon  descended  rapidly  the 
steps  of  the  palace  his  countenance  betokened  an 
explosion  at  hand,  and  without  speaking  to  any  one, 
he  advanced  towards  the  ranks  holding  the  letters  in 

his   hand,  and   called  out,   "  Let   M advance." 

The  surgeon  approached,  when  the  emperor  extend- 
ing the  letter  towards  him  said,  "  Did  you  write  this 
infamous  letter  ?" 

"  Pardon,  sire,"  cried  the  overwhelmed  surgeon, "  I 
was  drunk  at  the  time,  and  did  not  know  what  I  did." 

"  Miserable  man,  to  outrage  one  of  my  brave  lieu- 
tenants and  at  the  same  time  a  canoness  worthy  of 
respect,  and  sufficiently  bowed  down  w^ith  the  mise 
ries  of  war.  I  do  not  admit  your  excuse.  I  degrade 
you  from  the  Legion  of  Honor,  you  are  unworthy  to 


napoleon's     SEVERTXy.  85 

hear  tliat  venerated  symbol.  General  iJorsenne,'^ 
B-aid  he,  addressing  the  chief  of  the  corps,  "  see  that 
this  order  is  executed.  Insult  an  aged  woman !  I 
respect  an  aged  woman  as  if  she  were  my  mother." 

The  poor  surgeon  was  a  peaceable  man,  upright  in 
his  conduct  when  sober,  and  esteemed  in  the  Guard 
as  nnicli  for  his  kindness  as  for  his  talents.  They  in- 
terceded for  him,  but  Napoleon  refused  to  grant  their 
petition,  nor  did  he  yield  until  a  paper  signed  by  all 
the  generals  of  the  Guard,  asking  his  pardon,  was 
presented.  Excesses  are  always  committed  by  a  vic- 
torious army,  but  the  inhabitants  of  a  city  conquered 
by  the  French  never  complained  of  the  conduct  of 
the  Old  Guard.  At  home  and  abroad  they  were  the 
fi-iends  of  the  citizen  jind  exhibited  an  uprightness 
of  character  rarely  found  in  any  body  of  troops. 

Leaving  Vienna,  Kapoleon  crossed  the  Danube  at 
Lobau,  and  concentrated  the  whole  Austrian  army 
on  the  opposite  side.  The  sudden  rise  of  the  river 
after  part  of  the  army  had  crossed  by  which  the 
bridges  were  swept  away  leaving  him  with  only  a 
portion  of  his  troops  and  artillery,  the  bloody  battle 
of  Aspern,  the  failure  of  ammunition,  the  defeat  of 
the  French,  and  the  death  of  Lannes  are  well  known. 
Napoleon  was  compelled  to  use  his  Guard  severely 
on  both  of  these  days  to  check  the  victorious  advance 
of  the  enemy.  Bessieres  closed  the  first  day's  battle 
with  one  of  those  splendid  charges  of  the  cavalry  of 


86  THE    OU)    Gl  AKD. 

tho  Guard  on  the  Aiistrians'  centre.  Hiding  up  to 
the  flaming  batteries,  he  forced  the  in  back  into  the 
squares  of  the  infantry.  The  reserve  cavahy  of  the 
Austrians  were  sent  against  them,  but  were  swept 
from  their  path  like  chaff,  and  with  chittering  armor  and 
deafening  shouts,  the  terrible  squadrons  threw  them- 
selves on  the  solid  Hungarian  squares,  and  rode  round 
and  r<^nnd  them  in  search  of  an  opening  through 
which  they  could  dash,  till  nearl}^  half  their  number 
was  stretched  on  the  plain,  and  they  were  compelled  to 
retire. 

The  next  day  after  various  successes  on  either 
side,  the  battle  at  length  turned  decidedly  in  favor  of 
the  Austrians.  Night  was  approaching,  and  as  a  last 
resort,  lS"apoleon  ordered  Lannes  to  pierce  the  Aus- 
trian centre.  His  terrible  columns  had  well  nigh 
succeeded,  when  the  ammunition  gave  way.  Stopped 
in  his  victorious  advance,  he  at  length  was  compelled 
to  retrace  his  steps  and  the  whole  army  was  ordered 
to  fall  back  towards  the  island  of  Lobau.  Seeing 
the  retrograde  movement  the  Archduke  John  pushed 
his  attack  with  greater  vigor  and  under  the  tremen- 
dous fire  of  his  eighty  guns  the  French  soon  began 
to  show  signs  of  disorder.  It  was  all  important  at 
this  crisis  that  the  village  of  Essling  should  still  be 
held,  for  if  taken  by  the  enemy  !N"apoleon  saw  that 
his  case  would  be  desperate.  The  Archduke  John 
also  perceived  the  vital  importance  of  this  post,  for 


CHARGE   AT    ASPKRN.  87 

it  would  eifectually  cut  off  the  retreat  of  the  French 
to  the  river ;  and  sent  a  tremendous  force  against  it 
which  drove  out  its  gallant  defenders  from  every  por- 
tion but  the  great  granary.  ]S"apoleon  calm  and 
unmoved,  resolved  at  once  to  retake  it,  cost  what  it 
might,  and  for  that  purpose  immediately  despatched 
a  portion  of  the  Old  Guard — his  never  failing  hope 
when  evei'ything  else  gave  w^ay.  The  drums  beat  a 
hurried  charge,  and  the  dark  column,  in  double  quick 
time,  moved  over  the  interval,  and  with  fixed  bayo- 
nets and  firm  front  entered  the  village.  No  shouts 
or  clatter  of  small  arms  heralded  their  approach 
or  marked  their  terrible  course.  With  the  unwa- 
vering strength  of  the  inrolling  tide  of  the  sea,  they 
swept  forward,  crushing  every  obstacle  in  their  pas- 
sage. Through  the  devouring  fire,  over  the  batteries, 
they  stormed  on,  and  pushing  steadily  against  the 
darx  and  overwhelming  naasses  that  opposed  their 
progress,  they  rolled  the  two  Austrian  columns  in 
affright  and  dismay  before  them.  They  knew  the 
mission  they  were  to  fulfil,  and  ten  times  their  num- 
ber could  not  have  resisted  their  heavy  onset.  Ne 
sudden  alarms,  no  thoughts  of  retreat,  no  anxietj 
weakened  their  high  purpose.  The  crash  of  cannon 
balls  in  their  mid«t,  the  headlong  charge  of  cavalry, 
could  not  disturb  their  firm  set  ranks.  They  moved 
resistlessly  forward  till  the  enemy  was  driven  out  of 
the  village,  and  then  they  established  therap^lves  in 


88  THK   OLD   GUARD. 

the  granary,  iVoiu  which  the  most  determined  efforts 
were  made  to  dislodge  them.  The  Hungarian  grena 
diers,  that  Iiad  stood  so  firm  before  the  onset  of 
Lannes'  columns,  were  sent  against  them,  but  w*erc 
hurled  back  in  confusion.  Again  did  they  return 
with  reinforcements,  and  pressed  up  to  the  very  foot 
of  the  walls  and  again  fled  before  the  murderous  fire 
that  met  them.  Fvve  times  did  they  return  with  des- 
perate courage  to  the  assault,  only  to  meet  the  same 
fate.  The  upper  part  of  the  building  took  fire  in  the 
tumult,  but  still  "  amid  the  roar  of  burning  timbers" 
and  incessant  rattle  of  musketry  the  Old  Guard 
fought  on.  The  Austrian  general  seeing  that  nothing 
but  the  utter  annihilation  of  those  iron  men  could 
give  him  possession  of  the  place,  called  off  his  troops. 

It  was  on  such  occasions  as  this,  that  the  Old  Guard 
showed  its  strength.  Tried  in  a  hundred  battles,  it 
had  never  betrayed  the  confidence  of  its  great  leader, 
and  he  knew  when  he  sent  them  on  that  dreadful 
errand  that  they  would  fulfil  it 

The  Guard  suffered  heavily  in  these  two  conflicts, 
and  while  the  army  was  shut  up  in  the  island  of  Lo- 
bau,  the  emperor  took  great  care  of  it.  When  he 
broke  up  his  quarters  at  Schoenbrun  and  removed  to 
the  island,  his  fir;3t  visit  was  to  them  in  their  bivouacs 
where  he  found  them  at  their  repast.  "  Well,  my 
friends,"  said  he  to  a  group  before  which  he  had 
Btopjed,  "  how  do  yon  find  the  wine?" 


THE    GUARD    AT    ^VAGRAM.  89 

''It  will  not  make  us  tipsy,"  replied  an  old  grena- 
dier, and  pointing  to  the  Danube,  added,  "  behold  our 
wine  cellar." 

[N'apoleon,  who  had  ordered  the  distribution  of  a 
bottle  of  wine  to  each  soldier  of  the  Guard,  was  sur- 
prised to  find  that  his  commands  had  not  been  obeyed, 
and  sending  for  Berthier,  made  him  inquire  into  it. 
It  being  ascertained  that  those  employed  to  furnish 
the  wine  had  sold  it  for  their  own  profit,  they  were 
immediately  arrested,  tried  by  a  military  commission, 
condemned,  and  executed.  The  punishment  w^as 
sudden  and  severe  upon  any  one  who  dared  to  trifle 
with  his  Old  Guard.  They  might  as  well  defraud  or 
injure  him. 

THE    GUARD    AT   WAGRAM. 

At  the  opening  of  this  great  battle  on  the  second 
day,  the  Old  Guard,  with  the  reserve  cavalry,  were 
stationed  in  the  rear  of  the  centre.  Flushed  by  the 
successes  of  the  day  before,  the  Archduke  had  re- 
sumed the  offensive,  and  descending  the  plateau, 
poured  an  enormous  force  on  Napoleon's  right.  The 
latter  stood  and  listened  awhile  to  the  heavy  cannon- 
ading, but  as  the  rapidly  advancing  roar  of  the  ene- 
my's artillery  revealed  that  his  right  wing  was  forced 
back,  he  put  spurs  to  his  horse,  and  swiftly  crossing 
the  field  with  the  Old  Guard,  was  soon  at  the  me- 
naced point.      The   artillery,   under    the    immortal 


90  THE    OLD    GUARD. 

Dronot,  opened  like  a  volcano  on.tbe  advancing  col- 
umns, smiting  them  in  flank  so  terribly  that  they  were 
forced  to  retreat.  The  cuirassiers  then  charged,  car- 
rying disorder  and  destruction  into  their  ranks. 

But  while  this  was  passing,  a  more  imminent  peril 
had  overtaken  the  centre  and  left.  Against  both  the 
Austrians  were  successful.  The  lion-hearted  Massena, 
who  commanded  the  left,  was  overturned  in  his  car- 
riage by  his  own  panic-stricken  troops.  Unable  to 
mount  on  horseback,  filled  with  rage  at  the  discomfiture 
of  his  men,  he  ordered  the  dragoons  about  his  person 
to  charge  his  flying  soldiers  as  if  they  were  enemies. 
But  even  this  did  not  avail,  and  had  not  Napoleon's 
eagle  eye  discovered  the  condition  of  his  favorite 
general,  he  would  soon  have  been  a  prisoner  in  the 
hands  of  the  enemy.  TJien  passed  one  of  those 
scenes  that  make  us  for  awhile  forget  the  carnage 
of  a  great  battle  field.  From  the  extreme  right, 
at  first  like  a  slowly  ascending  thunder-cloud,  and 
then  like  a  bolt  from  heaven,  came  Napoleon  and 
his  guard  to  the  rescue.  Ordering  Davoust  to  attack 
Neusiedel,  and  the  foot  soldiers  of  the  Guard  to 
traverse  the  entire  field  at  the  ''^pas  de  cJiarge^^  he 
took  with  him  the  squadrons  of  the  steel-clad  cuiras- 
fiiers  and  the  artillery  of  the  Guard,  and  striking  into 
a  fierce  gallop  crossed  the  field  in  sight  of  both  armies. 
That  dread  artillery,  with  Drouot  in  the  midst,  and 
those  dark  squadrons  fringed  with  glittering  steel, 


ITS    ARTILLERY    AT    WAGRAM.  91 

thundered  after  their  great  leader.  The  earth  groaned 
and  trembled  as  they  passed,  and  even  the  combat- 
ants paused  a  moment  as  that  apparition  swept  with 
a  deep  dull  roar  along.  The  French  army  gave  a 
shout  as  they  watched  its  headlong  course.  Soon 
after  came  the  bear-skin  caps  of  the  foot  grenadiers 
going  almost  on  a  run,  though  perfect  in  their  forma- 
tion as  on  parade. 

Order  was  restored,  and  the  shattered  columns 
under  the  impenetrable  wall  which  the  Old  Guard 
presented,  rallied  and  executed  the  commands  of  Na- 
poleon with  the  most  perfect  regularity,  though  rid- 
dled by  the  cross  fire  of  the  Austrian  artillery.  It 
w^as  on  this  occasion  that  Napoleon  on  his  white 
Persian  charger  rode  backwards  and  forwards  before 
his  shrinking  lines,  to  keep  them  steady  while  his  other 
manoeuvres  could  be  executed.  For  a  whole  hour 
he  and  his  indomitable  Guard  stood  the  rock  of  that 
battle-field.  And  when  the  crisis  had  come  and 
Macdonald  was  directed  to  make  that  last  awful 
charge  on  the  Austrian  centre,  he  took  with  him  eight 
battalions  of  the  Young  Guard,  while  on  either  flank 
hovered  the  light  horse,  and  at  the  head  of  his  dread 
column  advanced  a  hundred  pieces  of  cannon  of  the 
Old  Guard  commanded  by  Drouot.  Behind  him, 
as  a  reserve,  was  the  emperor  surrounded  by  the  cav- 
alry and  infantry  of  the  Old  Guard.  Thus,  with  the 
Young  Guard  around  him,  and  Napoleon  and  the 


»Ji  THE    OLD    (iUAKI). 

Old  Guard  behind  him,  Drouot  and  his  deadly  artil- 
lery in  front,  Macdonald  entered  wich  a  bold  step 
the  volcano  before  him.  The  particulars  of  that 
charge  I  have  given  in  another  place.  Napoleon's 
throne  and  crown  went  with  it.  To  sustain  it  J3e8- 
sieres  charged  with  the  cavalry  of  the  Old  Guard  and 
was  hurled  from  his  horse  by  a  cannon  shot  which 
checked  the  enthusiasm  of  his  troops  and  rendered 
the  onset  weak  and  powerless.  But  the  day  was  won, 
thanks  to  the  unconquerable  Guard.  In  his  bulletin 
Napoleon  said,  "  The  artillery  of  the  Guard  has 
covered  itself  with  glory.  *  *  *  Our  intrepid  can- 
noneers have  shown  all  the  power  of  their  terrible 
arm.  The  mounted  chasseurs  of  the  Guard  have 
charged  three  squares  of  infantry  and  broken  them 
in  pieces.  The  Polish  Lancers  charged  a  regiment 
of  Austrian  lancei-s  and  took  prisoner  its  commander. 
Prince  D'Auesperg,  and  captured  twelve  pieces  (-f 
cannon." 

The  truth  is,  it  is  difficult  to  give  a  pro2:)er  idea  of 
the  conduct  of  the  Old  Guard.  To  the  cursory  reader 
it  seems  sti-ange  that  it  acquired  such  a  reputation. 
This  arises  from  the  fact  that  it  always  acted  as  a 
resen^e,  and  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  main  move- 
ments of  the  army,  which  it  is  the  duty  of  the  histo- 
rian to  describe.  To  stem  the  torrent  of  defeat,  to 
give  impulse  to  a  great  movement,  to  strengthen  an 
exhausted  column,  and  by  being  here  and  there  and 


ITS    CHAKACTEB.  93 

in  every  place  where  help  was  needed,  and  with  iiit 
broken  front  in  the  midst  of  disorder  and  calm  j-e* 
solute  hearts  in  the  midst '>f  fear  and  panic,  that  it 
gained  its  renown.  The  discomfited  soldier  gazed  in 
astonishment  on  the  cool  corn-age  which  triumphed 
where  he  had  failed,  and  broken  ranks  viewed  with 
wonder  the  steady  march  on  batteries  which  had 
shattered  them  to  fragments.  Called  in  only  wdien 
the  other  troops  gave  way,  and  manoeuvring  and 
charging  with  the  same  determined  bravery  in  tne 
midst  of  a  panic  as  in  the  flush  of  victory,  they  were 
looked  upon  as  superior  to  the  ordinary  emotions  and 
fears  of  mortals.  And  nothing  does  show  the  sub- 
lime elevation  of  this  invincible  body  of  men  more 
than  their  freedom  from  the  contagion  of  example, 
being  always  sufficient  in  themselves,  and  steadiest 
and  bravest  in  the  moment  of  greatest  disaster  and 
fear.  It  was  this  peculiarity  that  gave  the  Guard 
influence  over  the  soldiers  and  made  its  presence  like 
the  shout  of  victory.  The  w^hole  army  came  to  re- 
gard it  as  exempt  from  ordinary  duty  in  a  battle-field, 
too  great  to  be  employed  in  ordinary  fighting,  and  to 
be  called  upon  only  when  the  bravest  troops  gave 
way.  Its  charge  was  looked  upon  as  an  unalter- 
able decree  against  the  enemy  written  in  the  book  of 
fate.  Its  stern  and  measured  tread  never  faltered, 
against  its  adamantine  sides  cavalry  thundered  in 
vain,  while  before  its  levelled  bayonets  the  firmest 


94:  THE    OLD   GUARD. 

array  went  down.  Napoleon  knew- its  power  and  in- 
creased its  strength  to  the  greatest  limit  it  could  bear. 
Any  nation  that  could  furnish  two  hundred  thousand 
men  able  to  fullil  the  severe  conditions  annexed  to  ad- 
mission in  the  Old  Guard,  might  conquer  the  world. 

The  battle  of  Wagram  settled  the  fate  of  Austria, 
and  not  long  after  the  "  peace  of  Vienna"  was  con- 
cluded. The  war  in  the  Tyrol  and  Spain  was  carried 
on,  but  the  majority  of  the  Old  Guard  took  no  part 
ID  either.    They  were  sent  back  to  Paris  to  recruit. 

In  1809,  the  Guard  was  composed  of  31,203  meu 


C]i AFTER  VI. 

1810. 

Iffairiage  of  Napoleon  to  Marie  Louise — Augmentation  of  the  Old  Guard— Qitmd 
review  of  the  01 1  Guard  at  Paris— Touching  inciaent— The  brave  drummer  and 
General  Gros — Napoleon's  treatment  of  them — Secret  of  Napoleon's  influence 
over  his  troops,  was  in  the  afifectlon  he  inspired— His  prodigious  memory— Con- 
versation \\ith  the  Russian  Chamberlain. 

In  1810  the  star  of  Bonaparte  culminated.  It  was 
perhaps  the  most  glorious  year  of  his  life.  He  had 
compelled  peace  from  the  continental  powers,  and  the 
French  empire  had  been  extended  on  one  side  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Elbe,  and  on  the  other  to  the  shores  of  the 
Tiber.  Eome  and  Amsterdam  wei*e  both  cities  of  the 
Empire.  Joseph  Bonaparte  was  king  of  Spain,  Je- 
rome of  Westphalia,  and  Murat  of  Naples.  I^apo- 
leon  was  king  of  Italy  as  well  as  Emperor  of  France, 
and  was  looked  up  to  with  awe  by  a  hundred  million 
men.  Kings  gazed  with  amazement  and  fear  on 
this  strange  man,  who  made  such  playthings  of  their 
thrones,  and  dictated  terms  to  them  in  their  own  pal 


96  THE   OLD    GUARD. 

aces,  and  whose  victorious  armies -trod  the  streets  of 
their  capitals. 

This  plebeian  soldier  had  changed  the  cttntempt  with 
which  royal  blood  regarded  him,  into  deadly  fear;  and 
he  whom  they  deemed  fit  only  for  the  assassin's  knife, 
was  now  worthy  of  the  haughtiest  alliance,  and- the 
daughter  of  the  Csesars  became  the  wife  of  ]N"apo- 
leon. 

It  is  strange  how  slight  an  event  will  change  the 
features  of  the  world.  Napoleon  first  proposed  to 
marry  one  of  the  royal  family  of  Kussia.  The  em- 
peror was  delighted  with  the  project,  but  the  queen- 
mother  suggested  diflSculties,  and  demanded  delay. 
This  did  not  suit  the  impetuous  nature  of  Bona- 
parte, and  he  immediately  broke  off  negotiations  with 
Russia  and  offered  himself  to  the  house  of  Austria, 
and  was  accepted.  This  latter  alliance,  from  which 
he  hoped  so  much,  proved  of  no  benefit  to  him,  ex- 
cept to  facilitate  his  operations  against  Russia,  which 
in  the  end  proved  his  ruin.  Austria  regards  fam- 
ily ties  no  more  than  treaties  or  honor.  Treach- 
erous and  base,  no  reliance  can  be  placed  on  her 
fidelity  to  any  thing  but  her  self  interest. 

Russia  on  the  other  hand,  had  the  two  dynasties 
been  united,  would  have  proved  a  close  ally  to  France. 
That  fearful  invasion  of  her  territories  would  have 
been  prevented,  and  the  two  emperors  could  have 


GKAND   REVIEW.  97 

divided  Europe  between  them,  if  they  chose,  and 
prostrated  England  in  the  dust. 

The  last  war  with  Austria  had  impressed  Napoleon 
still  more  deeply  with  the  value  of  the  Old  Guard 
and  he  took  advantage  of  the  first  interval  of  peace 
to  augment  its  strength.  Holland  had  fallen  into  his 
hands,  and  he  incorporated  into  his  Guard  the  grena- 
diers of  the  Holland  Guard.  He  created  also  musi- 
cal corps  for  the  eight  regiments  of  the  Young 
Guard  already  in  existence,  and  doubled  the  officers 
of  health  attached  to  the  chief  hospital.  In  two 
years  he  had  more  than  doubled  its  number. 

BEVIEW    OF   THE   IMPERIAL    GUARD. 

J^apoleon  frequently  entertained  the  Parisians  with 
a  grand  review  of  his  troops,  especially  of  his  Guard. 
This  always  took  place  on  the  Sabbath,  to  give  ail  an 
opportunity  of  witnessing  it,  just  as  that  day  has  ever 
been  made  a  sort  of  fete  day  by  the  French.  On  the  3d 
of  June,  of  this  year,  he  held  one  of  these  grand  reviews 
in  presence  of  the  dignitaries  of  the  empire,  and  am- 
bassadors from  almost  every  court  of  Europe.  A 
chamberlain  of  the  emperor  of  Kussia,  the  count  of 
Trawinsoff,  was  then  at  the  French  court,  ostensibly 
to  enroll  a  troupe  of  comedians  for  the  imperial  thea- 
tre of  St.  Petersburg.  He  was  accredited  simply  as 
a  charge,  but  l^apoleon  knew  perfectly  well  that 
graver  matters  than  a  troupe  of  comedians  were  en 
5 


08  THE    OLD    GUARD. 

trusted  to  him.  On  the  morning  of  the  review  jt 
his  Guard,  he  asked  him  to  be  present  and  g;V€ 
his  opinion  of  it.  The  count  liaving  no  desire  to  see 
the  redoubtable  corps  which  at  Austerlitz  and  Eylau 
had  conquered  the  finest  troops  of  his  master,  de- 
clined on  the  ground  that  he  had  no  horse.  The  em- 
peror replied  he  would  give  him  one  of  his  own,  and 
the  count  was  compelled  to  accept  the  invitation. 

As  the  clock  struck  twelve,  there  arose  from  the 
different  corps  of  the  Guard  which  some  time  before 
liad  taken  position  in  the  court  of  the  Tuileries,  a 
loud  murmur  of  expectation  succeeded  by  a  profound 
silence.  The  rattling  of  a  scabbard  and  the  clicking 
of  spurs  as  the  booted  heel  came  dovm  upon  the  mar- 
ble floor  of  the  peristyle  was  heard,  and  the  next  mo- 
ment a  little  man  in  a  green  uniform,  the  modest 
epaulettes  of  a  colonel  on  his  shoulders,  a  plain  cha- 
peau  on  his  head,  the  signs  of  the  Legion  of  Honor, 
and  the  crown  of  iron,  the  only  ornaments  on  his 
breast,  stepped  forth.  He  paused  and  made  a  ges- 
ture with  his  hand,  and  in  a  few  seconds  a  group  of 
officers  in  splendid  uniforms,  with  their  hats  in  their 
hands,  surrounded  him.  The  drums  then  beat  the 
salute,  a  single  command  like  an  echo  rolled  from  ofii- 
cer  to  officer  the  whole  length  of  the  line,  and  with  a 
clattering  sound,  the  entire  army  as  if  it  had  been  one 
man,  presented  arms — the  colors  in  one  vast  cloud 
stooped  towards  that  little  man  in  green  uniform,  and 


napoleon's  kindness.  t«^ 

then  the  cry  of  "  Vive  VEmfereur^^  rolled  like  thun- 
der to  the  heavens. 

l!^apoleon  then  mounted  his  favorite  horse  Marengo^ 
whose  head  was  always  in  motion  as  if  impatient  like 
his  master  to  be  off  on  a  gallop,  and  rode  along  the 
lines.  Just  as  he  was  about  to  pass  into  tiie  ranks,  a 
young  man  seventeen  or  eighteen  years  of  age,  rushed 
out  of  the  multitude  and  ran  towards  him,  shaking  a 
paper  which  he  held  in  his  hand  above  his  head. 
Paying  no  heed  to  the  repeated  order  of  "  back, 
back,"  he  was  pushing  on,  when  a  grenadier  seized 
him  by  the  collar  and  forced  him  towards  the  specta- 
tors. But  lie  still  shook  his  paper  and  cried  out  over 
the  noise  of  the  multitude,  ''  Sire,  Sire,"  to  the  empe 
ror.  The  latter  said  coldly,  "  Let  the  young  man  ap 
p]-oach."  The  grenadier  immediately  released  him, 
and  presenting  arms  stood  like  a  statue.  The  young 
man  sprang  forward  and  fell  at  the  feet  of  Marengo. 
"  What  do  you  want?"  said  [N'apoleon,  as  he  stooped 
in  his  saddle  to  take  the  paper.  The  poor  petitioner 
said  nothing,  but  looked  beseechingly  at  the  emperor, 
while  the  tears  rolled  down  his  cheeks.  Kapoleon 
tore  off  the  envelope  and  casting  his  eye  over  the  pe- 
tition, said  to  the  young  man,  ''  Arise,  to  none  but 
God  should  you  kneel ;  from  w^hat  I  see,  your  mother 
has  never  left  Paris."  There  was  no  reply  and  cast< 
ing  his  eye  again  on  the  paper,  he  said  in  a  low  voice, 
"  I  have  been  deceived  respecting  this  woman  w  io  I 


100  THE   OLD   GUARD. 

was  told  had  emigrated  and  then  mixed  herself  up  in 
political  intrigues.  There  was  nothing  in  it."  Tlien 
raising  his  voice,  he  added,  "My  young  friend,  tell 
your  mother  tliat  from  this  moment  she  has  a  pension 
of  twelve  hundred  francs  from  my  own  purse."  Over- 
whelmed by  this  sudden  elevation  from  the  depths  of 
despair,  the  poor  youth  stood  a  moment,  while  the 
hue  of  death  crept  over  his  features,  his  eyes  closed 
and  sinking  on  his  knees  he  pitched  forward,  his 
head  striking  heavily  against  the  legs  of  Marengo  as 
he  fell.  The  frighted  steed  reared  bolt  upright  and 
but  for  an  aid-de-camp,  who  seized  him  by  the  bridle, 
would  doubtless  have  flung  his  imperial  rider.  A  cry 
of  terror  rose  from  the  multitude,  but  the  next  mo- 
ment as  they  saw  him  quietly  dismount  and  advance 
towards  the  young  man,  there  went  up  a  shout  that 
shook  the  field. 

An  officer  immediately  called  aloud  for  a  surgeon. 
"  Let  him  alone,  sir,"  said  Napoleon  quietly,  "  a  sur- 
geon is  useless,  joy  is  never  fatal  at  this  age.  He 
needs  only  a  little  cool  water."  One  of  the  specta- 
tors ran  and  fetched  some  in  his  hat  from  a  neighbor- 
ing fountain.  !Rapoleon  threw  a  few  drops  on  the 
poor  fellow's  face  when  he  opened  his  eyes.  Seeing 
the  emperor  stooping  over  him,  he  seized  one  of  his 
hands  and  kissed  it  in  a  transport  of  enthusiasm. 
"  Was  not  I  right  ?"  said  l^apoleon  pleasantly.  "  To 
horj^e,  gentlemen."     At  evening  that  youth  sent  an- 


101 

other  petition,  that  lie  might  fight  till  death  for  the 
emjyeror.  He  was  enrolled  in  the  foot  chasseurs  of 
the  Guard. 

This  to  an  ordinary  general  would  be  an  unimpor- 
tant affair,  yet  many  a  victory  of  Napoleon  grew  out 
of  just  such  incidents.  This  young  chasseur  would 
be  worth  a  whole  company  in  a  desperate  charge. 
With  the  eye  of  his  benefactor  on  him,  nothing  but 
death  could  arrest  his  progress,  and  his  example  in 
battle  would  make  heroes  of  all  around  him. 

At  the  time  this  was  transpiring,  another  incident 
of  a  comic  character,  yet  equally  illustrative  of  Na- 
poleon's love  for  the  brave,  and  of  his  tact  in  winning 
their  unbounded  devotion,  occurred  in  another  part 
of  the  field.  Gros,  one  of  the  generals  of  the  chas- 
seurs of  the  Old  Guard,  was  a  tall,  powerful  man, 
with  a  voice  like  a  trumpet.  He  was  illiterate,  but 
high-minded,  generous  to  a  fault,  and  the  very  soul 
of  bravery.  Napoleon  once  said  of  him,  "  Gros  lives 
in  the  smoke  of  cannon  like  a  fish  in  water.  It  is  his 
element."  The  mode  of  his  elevation  to  the  rank  he 
held,  was  a  farce  in  itself.  One  morning  while  he 
was  waiting  in  one  of  the  little  saloons  of  St.  Cloud 
to  receive  the  orders  of  the  Emperor,  who  had  sent 
for  him,  he  became  impatient  at  the  long  delay  and 
going  up  to  a  mirror,  began  to  contemplate  himself. 
He  pulled  up  his  collar,  adjusted  his  epaulettes,  exam- 
ined his  uniform^  and  casting  hi^  eyes  fron^  his  head 


102  TIIK   OLD    GUARD. 

to  liis  feet,  could  not  repress  his  admiration  of  the 
tout  ensemble  of  his  person  and  thinking  aloud,  said, 
'^  Ah  my  cadet,  there  are  few  of  these  dandy  officers 
made  up  like  you — what  a  misfortune  you  don't  know 
a  little  mathematics  which  the  emperor  requires,  yoii 
would  then  have  been  a  general  to-day."  Napoleon 
who  had  entered  unperceived  and  overheard  this  queei 
soliloquy,  suddenly  slapped  him  on  the  shoulder 
exclaiming,  "  You  are  one." 

On  the  day  of  the  review,  Gros  with  his  regiment 
was  at  one  extremity  of  the  line.  A  few  days  before 
there  had  been  incorporated  into  it  unbeknown  to  him 
an  old  friend  named  Castagnet.  He  was  a  drummer 
and  in  the  review  was  placed  in  the  front  rank. 
Gros  with  great  pomposity  was  slowly  walking  his 
horse  along  the  line,  scrutinizing  the  appearance  and 
arms  of  each,  when  he  was  suddenly  arrested  by 
"  Good  heavens !  it  is  you,  my  general,  look  at  me,  I 
am  that  fool  of  a  Castagnet  with  whom  you  have 
drunk  more  Schnick  than  there  is  broth  in  the  kettle 
of  the  Invalids.  How  are  you  ?  Don't  you  know  me, 
my  general  ?" 

At  the  first  words,  Gros  had  reco2:nised  his  old 
comrade,  and  yielding  to  the  sudden  generous  im- 
pulse, he  leaped  from  his  horse  and  embraced  him, 
shaking  his  hand  with  a  grasp  that  made  every  bone 
in  it  snap,  exclaiming,  "  Yery  well,  very  well,  my  old 
Castagnet,  and  you?" 


A    RECOGNITION.  103 

"  Always  r-r-r-rat-a-tat  tatting,  as  you  see.*' 

"  Come  to  me  to-morrow  morning,"  said  Gros  as  be 
re-mounted  liis  liorse,  "  you  shall  see  that  I  always 
have  something  for  my  old  friends." 

Napoleon,  who  had  just  gone  through  the  firet  files 
of  the  grenadiers,  happened  to  cast  his  eye  along  the 
line  at  this  moment  and  thought  he  saw  a  soldier  and 
general  embracing  each  other.  The  spurs  sank  in 
the  flanks  of  Marengo^  which  sprang  away  like  a 
flash  of  lightning,  and  the  next  moment  stood  before 
the  astonished  group.  "What  does  this  mean,  Gen- 
eral Gros,"  exclaimed  Kapoleon,  with  his  brow  knit 
in  anger,  "  is  this  a  theatrical  exhibition  ?" 

The  general  raised  his  chapeau,  and  pointing  to 
the  drummer,  who  stood  immovable  in  his  ranks,  said 
in  his  usual  frank  blunt  manner,  "  There  is  a  solid  sol- 
dier for  you,  one  who  never  winks  in  presence  of  the 
enemy.  Such  as  you  see  him,  sire,  he  has  beat  his 
drum  in  Italy,  Egypt,  and  through  all  Germany.  Ilis 
name  is  Castagnet.  It  was  he  who  beat  the  charge 
before  St.  Jean  d'Acre  with  one  hand  because  the 
other  had  been  shattered  by  a  ball,  at  the  commence- 
ment of  that  earthquake." 

As  much  as  Napoleon  loved  discipline,  he  loved 
bravery  better,  and  he  sat  with  his  eyes  fixed  on  Cas- 
tagnet, whose  heart  went  like  the  sticks  of  liis  own 
drum,  while  Gros  was  speaking;  and  as  he  finished 
Baid,  "  All  this  is  very  well,  but  the  time  is  ill  chosen 


104  THE   OLD   GUARD. 

for  such  recognitions."  Tlien  turning  to  Castagnet, 
be  said  in  that  wir.ning  tone  which  so  bewitched  hia 
soldiers,  "  You  are  he  then,  ray  brave  fellow,  who 
descended  the  third  time  into  the  fosse  of  St.  Jean 
d'Acre  ;  I  am  glad  to  see  jou  again."  With  this  he 
lifted  his  hand  to  his  chapeau,  slightly  raising  it  from 
his  head. 

These  flattering  words,  and  above  all,  the  gesture 
of  resj^ect,  completely  upset  the  poor  drummer.  He 
expected  punishment,  and  lo,  the  emperor  had  touched 
his  chapeau  to  him.  He  turned  white  and  red  by 
turns,  and  turning  and  twisting  his  head  about,  said, 
in  a  half  audible  tone,  "  You  flatter  me,  my  empe- 
ror." 

"  It  was  you,"  continued  JMapoleon,  "  I  have  a  good 
memory,  who  showed  such  presence  of  mind  and 
admirable  courage  at  the  battle  of  "Wertingnen,  and 
saved  the  life  of  your  captain." 

The  brave  fellow  whose  nerves  were  steady  as  iron 
in  the  deadly  combat,  was  completely  unmanned,  and 
with  his  head  cast  down,  said  in  a  voice  lower  than 
before,  ''  A  small  affair,  my  emperor,  always  the  same 
old  cask." 

''  Gros,"  added  Kapoleon,  "  if  your  protege  con- 
tinues to  behave  as  well  in  future,  he  shall  be  ad- 
vanced. He  is  worthy  of  a  better  po:.t,"  and  nodding 
pleasantly  to  the  drummer,  said,  '^  Au  revoir,  my 
brave  fellow^,"  and  gave  the  spur  to  Marengo. 


THE    BRAVE    DEUMMKK.  105 

Such  was  the  means  by  which  lN"apoleon  gained 
the  hearts  of  his  Guard.  The  beat  of  that  bia\e  fel- 
low's drum  in  the  fosse  of  St.  Jean  d'Acre  would  not 
hurry  men  to  the  deadly  charge  more  fiercely  than 
that  story  told  by  the  bivouac  fire  of  the  Old  Guard 
at  night.  The  whole  regiment  witnessed  the  strange 
scene,  and  there  was  not  a  man  in  it  but  felt  a  higher 
resolution.  He  would  cany  the  remembrance  of  it 
into  battle,  it  would  nerve  him  to  another  effort  when 
about  to  give  way,  and  rally  him  to  another  charge 
at  sight  of  his  commander.  Who  would  not  per- 
form great;  deeds,  when  years  after  he  was  told  of 
them  by  his  emperor,  in  presence  of  the  whole  army  ? 
The  brave  acts  of  even  a  poor  druminer  were  trea- 
sured up  in  the  heart  of  him  for  whom  he  shed  his 
blood,  and  it  recompensed  him  for  all  he  had.  suffered. 
Ah,  Bonaparte  knew  how  to  win  the  hearts  of  his  sol- 
diers, and  that  alone  would  give  him  unconquerable 
troops. 

After  having  passed  in  review  the  squadrons  of  the 
Guard  and  the  light  cavalry,  he  returned  to  the  court 
of  the  Tuileries,  and  placed  himself  in  front  of  a 
email  squadron  of  general  officers,  composed  of  his 
staff.  At  a  gesture  of  liis  hand,  an  officer  of  ord- 
nance approached  with  his  head  uncovered,  and  bow- 
ing to  Napoleon,  parted  on  a  gallop  and  riding  rap- 
idly along  the  whole  front  of  battle  returned  to  his 
place.  A  moment  after  "Napoleon  urg'd  Marengo 
5* 


lOS  THE   OLD   GUAJID. 

covered  with  foam,  a  few  steps  in  advance,  and  lifb 
ing  bis  hand  sliook  it  above  his  head.  From  the  ex- 
trense  end  of  the  line  the  faint  roll  of  drums  was 
heard,  gradually  swelling,  till  it  swept  like  thunder 
over  the  field.  In  an  instant  it  ceased  and  the  rat- 
tling of  musketry  ran  with  the  regularity  of  a  w^ave, 
from  one  end  of  the  vast  line  to  the  other.  At  length 
the  impassible  face  of  Napoleon  kindled  with  ex- 
citement ;  and  placing  his  right  hand  upon  his  thigh, 
he  half  turned  in  his  saddle,  and  gave  the  Kussian 
ambassador,  who  was  absorbed  in  the  magnificent 
tableau,  a  glance  that  could  not  be  mistaken.  He 
had  caught  the  undulations  of  the  eagles  of  his  Guard 
as  it  put  itself  in  motion,  and  from  the  farthest  ex- 
tremity, began  to  advance.  The  foot  grenadiers  and 
chasseurs,  who  had  swept  the  fields  of  Austerlitz,  Jena^ 
Eylau,  and  Wagram,  first  approached.  As  they  began 
to  defile,  Napoleon  made  a  sign  to  the  Russian  cham- 
berlain to  take  his  place  by  his  side.  As  the  regiments 
approached,  he  said,  pointing  to  one,  "  That  is  my 
45th,  they  are  my  brave  children  of  Paris.  Tf  ever  car- 
tridges are  burned  between  my  brother,  the  emperor  of 
Russia,  and  me,  I  will  show  the  efficiency  of  my  45th. 
It  was  this  regiment  that  precipitated  itself  upon  the 
Russian  batteries  at  Austerlitz.  That  little  corporal 
you  see  running  there  with  his  fusil  upon  his  shoulderj 
finding  himself  about  to  be  taken  by  an  officer  of  the 
cannoneers  of  Doctorow,  sprang  up  behind  him,  stran 


107 

gled  liim  with  his  hands,  and  made  his  escape."  The 
chamberlain  expressing  his  admiration  of  the  daring 
deed,  Kapoleon  added,  "  There  is  not  a  regiment  in 
my  Guard  that  cannot  cite  a  hundred  acts  far  more 
admirable.  Do  you  see  that  lieutenant  covered  with 
dust?  It  is  Kobaglia,  n)y  cousin,  who  lives  but  for  me." 
He  thus  went  on  particularizing  one  after  another, 
going  back  even  to  his  first  campaigns. 

The  cavalry  then  defiled  in  the  same  wonderful 
order,  though  enveloped  in  a  cloud  of  dust.  The  ter 
rible  grenadiers,  whose  heavy  shocks  few  squares 
could  withstand,  passed  along,  followed  by  the  chas- 
seurs with  their  green  uniform  and  tall  plumes  waving- 
like  a  field  of  grain  in  the  wind.  After  them,  the 
mamelukes,  with  their  white  turbans  surmounted  with 
a  cross  of  gold,  then  the  dragoons  of  the  Guard,  with 
their  light  helmets  flashing  in  the  sun,  commanded  by 
Arigha,  a  cousin  of  Napoleon,  then  the  Polish  lancers 
in  their  gay  and  sparkling  uniform,  and  last  the  artil- 
lery of  the  Guard,  followed  by  the  equipages  of  the 
train.  Each  regiment  and  squadron  sent  up  their 
loud  ''Vive  V Emyereur^''  as  it  passed.  Napoleon 
then  dismounted  and  mixing  with  the  chief  officers 
of  the  several  corps,  conversed  a  while  familiarly  with 
then,  and  returned  to  the  Tuileries. 

The  imposing  pageant  had  passed.  That  army  of 
thirty  thousand  warriors — veterans  every  one,  had 
moved  at  the  word  of  command,  like  a  single  man,  and 


108  THE   OLD    GUARD. 

no  one  who  saw  their  firm  array  and  perfect  discipline, 
and  knew  their  history,  could  be  astonished  at  their 
invincibility.  When  it  was  over,  Napoleon  asked  the 
Russian  chamberlain  what  had  struck  him  most  at 
the  review. 

"The  prodigious  memory  of  your  majesty,"  he  re- 
plied, "  and  the  ease  with  which  you  recalled,  after 
so  long  a  time,  the  deeds  of  arms  and  the  names  of  so 
many  soldiers." 

"  Monsieur  Count,"  replied  the  emperor,  "  it  is  the 
memory  of  the  heart,  it  is  that  of  the  lover  which  re- 
calls his  first  attachments,  it  is  never  lost." 
.  I  have  thus  gone  into  a  detailed  account  of  this 
single  review,  because  such  exhibitions  formed  a  part 
of  the  history  of  the  Old  Guard,  and  incidents  like 
these  I  have  related  lay  at  the  foundation  of  the  de- 
voted attachment  it  showed  to  Napoleon. 

At  the  close  of  1810  the  Guard  numbered  33,500 
men. 


CHAPTER  VIL 
1811. 

Increase  of  the  Guard— Birth  of  the  king  of  Rome— The  excitement  and  joy  rf 
the  Parisians  at  the  recent  creation  of  the  pupils  of  the  Guard— Their  reTiew  ij 
presence  of  the  Old  G  uard — Napoleon's  address  to  both  —Anecdote  of  one  of  tha 
pupils.    The  pupils  in  service  to  the  young  king  of  liome. 

In  March,  1811,  the  regiment  of  the  Young  Hol- 
landers, formed  by  Louis  Bonaparte,  King  of  Holland, 
at  the  abdication  of  the  latter,  were  called,  as  before 
stated,  into  France,  and  incorporated  into  the  Young 
Guard.  At  first  it  was  composed  of  only  two  batta- 
lions, but  afterwards  was  increased  to  nine,  and  gave 
an  addition  to  the  Guard  of  nine  thousand  men. 

The  birth  of  a  son  to  ]N"apoleon,  filled  the  nation 
with  joy,  and  removed  from  the  statesman  of  France 
a  load  of  anxiety.  The  French  empire  and  Napoleon 
were  one.  He  had  made  it,  and  he  alone  could  pre- 
eerve  its  integrity.  'No  other  statesman  nor  leader 
in  the  army,  even  if  elevated  to  his  place,  could  sway 


110  THE   OLD   GUARD. 

his  sceptre.  Were  he  dead,  France  must  look  intc 
the  gulf  of  another  revolution,  or  submit  to  the  dic- 
tation of  tyrants.  And  yet  this  single  man,  on  whoso 
shoulders  lay  the  interests  of  .so  vast  an  empire,  lived 
on  the  battle-field,  exposed  to  death  on  every  side. 
Wise  men  trembled  when  they  saw  so  mighty  a 
structure  resting  on  a  single  pedestal,  and  asked; 
what  would  become  of  France  if  the  shot  that  pierced 
the  breast  of  Turenne,  or  shattered  Charles  XII., 
should  pierce  him.  A  son  would  confirm  his  dynasty 
and  the  army  would  rally  around  his  cradle,  for  the 
father's  sake.  It  was  from  such  views  sprung  the 
strong  desire  on  the  part  of  France,  that  ISTapoleon 
should  be  divorced  from  Josephine  and  marry  some 
one  who  could  give  him  an  heir.  One  can,  therefore, 
easily  imagine  the  intoxication  of  the  French  people 
when  that  heir  was  actually  born. 

The  confinement  of  the  queen  was  known  through- 
out Paris,  and  the  whole  population  was  on  the  tip- 
toe of  expectation.  At  length  the  cannon  of  the 
Invalides  thundered  forth  the  joyful  event  that  a  child 
was  born.  It  was  announced  beforehand  that  if  it 
were  a  princess,  twenty-one  guns  should  be  fired — if 
a  prince,  a  hundred.  As  the  first  heavy  explosion 
rolled  over  the  city,  the  vast  population  stood  and 
listened.  They  counted  to  the  twenty-first  discharge, 
at  which  there  was  a  pause.  The  excitement  then 
became  intense,  and  when  at  length  the  twenty-second 


13IKTI1    OF    THE    KING    OF    KOME.  Ill 

gun,  double  charged,  pealed  over  the  Seine,  a  wild 
shout  of  enthusiasm  shook  the  capital  to  its  centre, 
telling  to  all  Europe  how  deep-seated  was  the  affec 
tion  of  the  people  fo ;  their  Emperor,  and  how  great 
their  joy  at  the  prospect  of  the  continuation  of  hi 
dynasty. 

The  birth  of  this  young  "  king  of  Eome,"  as  he  was 
titled,  was  celebrated  with  extraordinary  pomp. 

To  give  greater  eclat  to  the  event,  and  at  the  same 
time  form  the  nucleus  of  a  Guard  which  should  be  to 
his  son  what  the  Old  Guard  had  been  to  him,  he 
issued  a  decree,  creating  a  regiment  of  two  battalions 
composed  of  six  companies  each,  under  the  name  of 
pupils  of  the  Guard,  to  be  called  "  Guards  of  the 
King  of  Rome."  The  young  Bonaparte  was  to  be 
the  commander  when  he  became  old  enough  to  han- 
dle a  sword.  Ko  one  could  be  admitted  into  this 
guard  under  ten,  or  over  sixteen  years  of  age.  He 
also  must  be  the  son  or  nephew  of  a  soldier  who  had 
died  on  the  field  of  battle.  He  must  be  able  to  read 
and  write,  and  bring  proof  that  he  had  been  vaccin- 
ated. Most  of  the  officers  were  chosen  from  the  mil- 
itary school  of  St.  Cyr — and  from  the  sub  lieutenants, 
up  to  the  colonel  commandant,  they  were  nominated 
by  the  emperor  himself,  after  being  proposed  by  the 
minister  of  war.  This  corps  of  boys  was  organized 
at  Yersailles,  and  very  soon  numbered  four  thousand. 
They  were  all  orpharr,  and  Napoleon  said.  "  their 


112  THE   OLD   GUARD. 

fatliers  being  dead,  the  army  shall- be  their  father." 
They  had  a  standard  of  their  own,  but  no  eagle  ;  for 
that  was  never  given  to  a  regiment  unless  earned  on 
the  field  of  battle. 

After  they  had  been  drilled  awhile,  the  emperor 
ordered  them  to  be  brought  to  Paris  from  Yersailles, 
to  figure  in  one  of  his  grand  reviews  of  the  Old  Guard. 
The  latter  were  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle,  when  to 
the  surprise  of  every  one,  a  new  army  in  miniature 
debouched  by  the  bridge  royal,  and  advanced  in  good 
order  in  front  of  the  troops.  The  martial  air  and  erect 
figures  of  these  boys  of  ten  to  sixteen  years  of 
age,  astonished  every  one.  There  was  a  platoon  of 
sappers,  little  fair-haired  urchins,  with  bear-skin  caps, 
whose  beardless  chins  and  lively  faces  contrasted 
ludicrously  with  the  terrible  air  they  tried  to  give 
themselves.  The  drum-major  was  five  feet  two  inches 
high,  and  as  he  passed  the  Old  Guard,  he  made  his 
cane  fly  about  his  head  with  extraordinary  rapidity, 
as  much  as  to  say,  "  beat  that  if  you  can."  He  was 
followed  by  the  drummers,  but  without  the  larger  bass 
drums,  for  there  were  none  big  enough  to  beat 
them.  They  played  "  la  Favorite,"  a  quick  step  com- 
posed expressly  for  them.  Then  came  the  chief  ofii- 
cers  on  hoi-seback,  followed  hy  the  whole  corps.  As 
they  marched  along,  they  looked  for  all  the  world  like 
the  Old  Guard  seen  through  an  inverted  spy  glass 
They  formed  in  front  of  the  l&t  regiment  of  grena 


PUPILS  OF  THE  GUARD.  113 

diers,  and  the  old  veterans  at  the  sight  of  these  hahy 
soldiers  laughed  and  chuckled  in  great  delight. 

Soon,  however,  the  beat  of  drums  announced  the 
arrival  of  the  Emperor,  who  appeared  on  the  field 
and  rode  straight  to  the  pupils.  They  opened  their 
ranks  to  receive  him,  and  he  dismounted,  and,  accom- 
panied by  the  little  staff  officers,  began  his  inspection. 
All  at  once  he  stopped,  and  seizing  a  corporal  by  the 
ear,  pulled  him  towards  him,  and,  in  a  stern  voice, 
asked  his  age. 

"  Thirteen  years  old,  my  Emperor,  the  30th  of  last 
March,  the  day  of  the  birth  of  the  King  of  Eome." 

"  Why  did  you  smile  just  now  when  I  spoke  to 
your  captain  ?" 

"From  pleasure  in  seeing  you,"  replied  the  little 
blond. 

"  And  what,  if  on  arriving  at  Yersailles,  I  should 
have  you  put  in  the  hall  of  police,  to  teach  you  that 
an  under  officer  never  ought  to  smile  in  the  ranks  ?" 

"  My  Emperor,  it  would  make  me  very  happy,  for 
it  would  show  that  you  had  thought  of  me." 

Napoleon  smiled  at  the  na'ive  reply,  and  passed  on. 

After  he  had  finished  his  inspection,  he  ordered 
the  line  of  pupils  to  advance  a  few  steps,  then  placing 
himself  between  them  and  his  grenadiers,  he  said  : 

"  Soldiers  of  my  Old  Guard,  behold  your  children  I 
Their  fathers  fell  fighting  by  your  sides,  and  you  will 
take  their  places  to  them.     They  will  find  in  you.  at 


114  TilK    OLD    GUAKD. 

the  same  time,  an  example  and  a  support.  Be  tlieii 
tutors.  In  imitating  you,  they  will  be  brave ;  ic 
listening  to  your  counsel,  they  will  become  the  first 
Boldiers  of  the  world.  I  confide  to  them  the  Guard 
of  my  son.  With  them  I  will  have  no  fear  for  him, 
as  with  you  I  am  without  fear  for  myself.  I  ask  for 
them  your  friendship  and  protection." 

"  Vive  PEmpereur  !  Yive  le  Roi  de  Rome  !"  rolled 
in  deafening  shouts  through  the  ranks. 

jN^apoleon,  with  a  gesture  of  his  hand,  checked  their 
enthusiasm,  and,  turning  to  the  pupils,  said,  in  a  sub- 
dued tone,  "  And  you,  my  children,  in  attaching  you 
to  my  Guard,  I  have  given  you  a  difiicult  duty  to 
fulfill ;  but  I  rely  upon  you,  and  I  hope  one  day  to 
hear  it  said — '  These  children  are  worthy  of  their 
fathers.' " 

As  he  finished,  the  most  frantic  acclamations  rent 
the  air. 

He  little  thought,  that  in  less  than  three  years  he 
would  see  those  children  crushing  Russian  grenadiers 
beneath  their  impetuous  charge,  and  leaving  their 
youthful  forms  on  the  soil  of  France  in  bravely 
endeavoring  to  hurl  back  the  invaders  of  her  soil. 

As  the  troops  defiled  before  him,  the  pupils  were 
at  the  head  of  the  Old  Guard,  and  throughout  the 
parade  marched  in  good  order,  like  trained  soldiers, 
As  the  grenadiers  came  opposite  Kapoleon,  a  child  oi 
ten  years  old  quitted  his  comrades,  and  advancing 


YOUNG    FRANCOIS  115 

timidly  towards  liiin,  presented,  tit  a  distance,  liia 
little  bonnet,  on  which  was  placed  a  petition. 

''  Ah,  ha  !"  said  ISTapoleon,  smiling,  '  ambitious 
already.  He  has  commenced  early."  Then  turning 
to  Lauriston,  his  aide,  he  bade  him  see  w*hat  the  child 
wanted.  As  the  latter  brought  back  the  petition,  he 
said  :  "  Sire,  it  is  an  orphan." 

"  An  orphan  !"  interrupted  the  Emperor  ;  "  then  1 
must  see  to  it.     Give  me  the  paper." 

As  he  unrolled  the  petition,  he  saw  it  was  ad- 
dressed to  his  infant  child.  It  began  :  "  To  his  Ma- 
jesty the  King  of  Eome." — Sire  :  Pierre  Muscadet, 
eleven  campaigns  old,  exclusive  proprietor  of  ^^^ 
wounds  not  mortal,  and  foot  grenadier  of  the  Old 
Guard  to  your  honored  father,  who  has  decorated 
the  petitioner  with  his  own  hands  at  Boulogne, 
wishes  to  let  you  know  that  he  has  a  nephew  with 
wdiom  he  knows  not  what  to  do,  inasmuch  as  he 
wishes  to  become  a  soldier.  He  is  of  blond  com- 
plexion ;  has  been  vaccinated  according  to  the  rules. 
The  bearer  will  undoubtedly  make  a  good  soldier. 
He  knows  how  to  read  and  write,  and  is  aware  ol 
the  j-espect  due  to  his  chiefs,  and  to  the  heir  presump- 
tive to  the  great  ISTapoleon.  The  petitioner,  there- 
fore, prays  that  you  will  have  the  goodness  to  permit 
his  nephew,  Francois  Muscadet,  bearer  of  the  pre- 
sent, to  be  incorporated  as  soon  as  possible  into  the 
6orps  of  the  pupils  of  the  Guard,  which  is  your  own. 


116  THE   OLD    GUAEI). 

I  promise  that  he  will  never  murmur  in  the  service  ol 
your  imperial  person,  roval  and  Roman." 

The  old  soldier  made  his  sign  at  the  bottom  of  the 
petition. 

In  reading  it,  Napoleon  smiled  again  and  again. 
As  he  read  the  address,  "  To  his  Majesty  the  King  of 
Rome,"  he  shrugged  his  shoulders  and  said,  "  But  this 
is  not  for  me." 

Having  made  a  sign  for  the  boy  to  approach,  he 
said,  "  Thou  art  called  Francis,  and  art  nephew  of 
Pierre  Muscadet,  grenadier  of  my  Guard  ?" 

"  Yes,  my  Emperor,"  he  replied,  timidly,  rolling 
his  bonnet  in  his  hands. 

"  Well,  tell  your  uncle  that  he  is  a  simpleton." 

"  Yes,  my  Emperor,"  replied  the  little  fellow,  with 
liis  eyes  cast  down. 

Napoleon  smiled  at  his  naivete,  and  continued, 
"  Nevertheless,  his  commission  shall  be  punctually 
executed,  for  it  would  not  be  right  to  let  you  be  the 
victim  of  your  uncle's  foolishness."  Then  turning 
to  his  aide-de-camp,  he  said,  "  Take  the  petitioner 
with  his  petition  to  my  son." 

Lauriston  introduced  the  little  Francis  into  the 
chamber  of  his  Majesty,  then  five  months  old.  He 
w'as  asleep,  but  just  then  waking  up,  began  to  cry 
vociferously.  Lauriston  thinking  his  commission  ful- 
filled, returned,  and  found  Napoleon  occupied  witij 
the  movements  of  the  light  artillery. 


PUPILS  OF  THE  GUARD.  117 

*'  Well,"  said  he,  "  have  you  done  what  I  desired  V 

"  Yes,  sire." 

"  What  response  aid  Lis  Majesty  the  King  of  Rome 
make  ?" 

"  Sire,  his  Majesty  made  no  reply." 

IST-apoleon  smiled  and  said,  "  They  say  silence  gives 
consent.  J  will  see  to  it  this  evening."  Then  turn- 
ing to  Francis,  he  bade  him  rejoin  his  comrades,  and 
take  care  not  to  get  under  the  horses'  feet.  He 
watched  him  as  he  ran  with  all  his  might  through  the 
ranks  of  the  last  battalion  of  grenadiers,  and  when 
he  lost  sight  of  him  he  said,  '^  Poor  little  fellow,  I 
wager  that  he  will  be  no  fool ;  but  his  uncle,  though 
simple,  is  not  less  one  of  my  braves,  and  I  wish  to 
gratify  him." 

Afterwards  when  [N'apoleon  was  disputing  inch  by 
inch  the  soil  of  France  against  an  overwhelming 
army,  this  Francis  led  his  troops  to  the  charge  with 
the  sang-froid  of  a  veteran,  and  equalled  the  Old 
Guard  in  a  murderous  action  on  the  plains  of  Cham- 
pagne. Although  wounded  early  in  the  battle,  he 
refused  to  quit  the  field,  but  lay  bleeding  and  shout- 
ing, "  Vive  V  Empermi'/^^'^  till  the  Russians  gave  way. 
The  cross  of  the  Legion  of  Honor  was  his  reward. 

Immediately  after  the  review,  the  pupils  of  the 
Guaixi  commenced  their  service  around  the  young 
king  of  Rome.  The  ladies  in  waiting  of  the  empress 
amused  themselves  much  with  these  miniature  sol- 


lis  THE    OLD   GUARD. 

diei-s,  teazing  and  consoling  them  by  turns.  Like  the 
Old  Guard,  in  its  service  to  the  Emperor,  a  portion 
only  was  on  duty  at  a  time,  relieving  the  other  every 
day.  In  the  morning  when  the  new  detachment 
arrived,  it  found  in  its  cartouch  boxes,  tops,  toys, 
balls  filled  with  bon  bons  and  confectionery  of  every 
description.  Such  playthings  did  they  make  of  these 
unfledged  soldiers  whom  Ney  himself  two  years  after 
was  to  lead  with  astonishment  against  the  veterans  oi 
Europe. 

At  the  close  of  this  year,  1811,  the  Guard  numbered 
61,960  men. 


iWAPTER  VTII. 
1812. 

THE   OLD    GUARD   IN   RUSSIA. 

AubUme  spectacle  of  the  army  of  invasion — The  Old  Guard  at  Borodino — Gftllul 
Charge  and  death  of  Caulincourt— Strange  conduct  of  Napoleon— The  Old 
Guard  in  the  Kremlin— Anecdote  illustrating  its  honesty— It  saves  the  chest  of 
the  army  at  Eussia. 

The  world  never  saw  such  a  spectacle,  and  proba 
bly  never  will  behold  one  like  it  in  the  future,  as 
Europe  presented  in  the  spring  of  1812.  The  vast 
intellect  of  ITapoleon  had  not  only  triumphed  over 
the  surrounding  sovereigns  so  long  banded  against 
him,  but  had  compelled  them  to  assist  him  in  the 
aecomplishment  of  his  great  plans,  and  Italy,  Aus- 
tria, Eussia,  Bavaria,  Poland,  Holland,  and  Sweden, 
sent  up  his  war-cry.  The  flags  that  had  so  long 
advanced  against  each  other  in  deadly  combat,  waved 
Bide  by  side  in  friendly  greeting.  Eegiments  that 
had  last  seen  each  other  as  they  m^.t  in  mortal  striff 


120  TIIK    OLD    OUARD. 

and  fierce  hate  at  Marengo,  Austerlitz,  Jena,  and 
Wagrain,  now  swore  to  move  shoulder  to  shoulder  in 
H  common  cause.  The  lion  of  the  north  was  to  be 
bearded  in  his  den,  and  Napoleon  with  500,000  men 
at  his  back,  started  for  Moscow.  The  magnitude  and 
grandeur  of  the  expedition  filled  the  world  with 
amazement,  and  thousands  of  the  wealthy  and  noble 
eagerly  sought  a  place  in  it  to  partake  of  the  glory 
that  awaited  it.  From  the  Baltic  to  the  Calabrian 
mountains,  and  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Vistula,  the 
nations  obeyed  one  imperious  will  and  thronged  at 
his  command  to  one  banner.  The  gathering  of  troops 
from  every  quarter  to  a  common  centre,  the  highways 
of  France  and  Germany  crowded  for  months  with 
infantry,  cavalry,  and  artillery,  pouring  in  endless 
thousands  forward,  imparted  to  every  beholder  the 
feeling  of  invincible  power.  A  half  a  million  of 
men,  eighty  thousand  cavalry,  thirteen  hundred  can- 
non thundering  heavily  along,  a  hundred  and  eighty- 
seven  thousand  horses,  twenty  thousand  chariots  and 
wagons,  these  formed  the  spectacle  on  which  the  gaze 
of  nations  was  riveted.  More  than  all,  at  the  head 
of  this  vast  and  imposing  array,  rode  the  greatest 
chieftain  of  ancient  or  modern  times,  one  who  occu- 
pied an  elevation  no  monarch  since  Caesar  had  reached, 
and  under  whose  control  in  various  parts  of  the 
continent  marched  1,400,000  men.  But  accustomed 
as  he  was  to  vast  undertakings,  the  magnitude  of  thif 


ADVANCE    TO    MOSCOW.  121 

had  filled  him  with  serious  misgivings.  Besides,  he 
was  acting  directly  contrary  to  the  rule  which  he 
himself  had  laid  down,  viz.,  to  do  one  thing  at  a  time, 
and  strike  in  a  mass.  But  here  he  had  Spain  in  his 
hands  where  many  of  his  best  troops  were  engaged, 
and  at  the  same  time  was  marching  against  the 
extreme  north,  thus  keeping  two  fires  blazing  at  oppo- 
site extremities,  which  always  threaten  to  exhaust 
and  consume  the  centre. 

J^apoleon,  however,  had  a  grand  army  under  his 
control.  He  had  augmented  his  Guard  to  upwards  of 
fifty-six  thousand  men,  a  large  army  in  itself.  The  Con- 
sular Guard  at  Marengo,  of  eight  Jiundred  rrten^  pre- 
sents a  striking  contrast  to  this  immense  host.  But 
the  ^'  column  of  granite"  had  not  changed  its  charac- 
ter, and  as  it  first  stood  on  the  disordered  battle-field 
80  firm  and  immovable,  it  still  stood, — the  rock  which 
the  sea  lashes  in  vain. 

In  the  advance  to  Moscow,  I^apoleon  spared  hie 
Guard.  Battle  after  battle  was  fought,  and  these 
brave  troops  were  compelled  to  look  on  as  idle  spec- 
tators.    It  was  no  better  in  the  "  battle  of  giants." 

THE   GTJAED    AT   BORODINO. 

At  Borodino  the  Guard  had  pitched  their  tents  about 

the  Emperor,  expecting  in  the  morning  they  at  least 

might  do  something  worthy  of  their  old  renown.     But 

in  the  most  critical  state  of  the  battle  that  followed,  he 

6 


122  THE    OLD    GUARD. 

Iield  tlioiii  back.  At  noon,  Murat  and  "Ney  had  opened 
the  road  to  victory,  but  were  too  exhausted  to  occupy 
it  without  reinforcements,  and  sent  to  the  Emperor  for 
them.  But  the  fever  whi«h  wasted  him  had  quenched 
the  life  and  fiery  vigor  he  always  exhibited  on  the  field 
of  battle,  and  he  remained  listless,  as  if  under  a 
spell,  a  great  part  of  the  time.  He  could  not  make 
up  his  mind  to  grant  Ney  and  Murat's  request.  He 
pondered  long  witli  himself,  and  after  again  and 
again  giving  the  order  for  the  Young  Guard  to  ad- 
vance, he  each  time  countermanded  it  and  kept  it 
near  his  pereon.  Those  two  fiery  leaders  who  had 
struggled  so  gloriously,  and  saw  victory  in  their 
grasp,  were  compelled  by  this  strange  delay  to  halt, 
while  the  enemy  reformed,  and  attacked  them  in  turn. 
After  driving  every  thing  before  them,  they  found 
themselves  scarce  able  to  make  good  their  defence 
against  the  heavy  onsets  to  which  they  were  exposed. 
Again  Murat  sent  an  urgent  demand  for  succor,  and 
Napoleon  at  length  promised  the  Young  Guard.  But 
it  had  scarcely  begun  to  advance  when  lie  ordered  it 
to  halt.  Count  Lobau,  however,  under  the  pretence 
of  dressing  the  line,  worked  it  gradually  forward, 
which  the  Emperor  observing,  repeated  his  order. 
He  did,  however,  let  the  arti.lery  of  the  guard  ad- 
vance, which  soon  told  with  frightful  effect  on  the 
enemy.  The  generals  had  been  amazed  at  the  un- 
wonted apathy  of  their  great  leader,  and  it  was  witb 


AT   BOKODINO.  122 

ioy,  therefore,  they  saw  eighty  pieces  of  this  ro 
nowned  artillery  lining  the  summits,  and  opening 
their  heavy  fire  like  a  single  gun.  The  Eussian 
cavalry,  shattered  by  it,  were  compelled  to  retire 
behind  the  infantry.  The  latter  then  advanced  in 
black  and  heavy  masses.  Through  these  the  cannon 
balls  made  wide  and  fearful  rents.  But  they  were 
closed  up  as  fast  as  made,  and  stern  and  steady  the 
iron  columns  continued  to  advance  until  they  came 
within  reach  of  grape  shot,  when  the  batteries  smote 
them  like  a  sudden  hail-storm.  Whole  companies  fell 
at  every  discharge.  Every  where  throughout  the  ranka 
portions  were  seen  suddenly  to  sink  away  as  if  engulfed 
in  the  earth.  The  soldiers,  however,  nobly  endeavored 
to  maintain  their  formation,  closing  steadily  over  the 
dead  bodies,  and  trampling  them  under  foot.  But 
they  could  not  breast  that  frightful  tempest,  driving 
its  iron  sleet  in  their  very  faces ;  and  they  halted, 
and  either  petrified  at  the  awful  destruction  around 
them,  or  from  want  of  presence  of  mind  and  general- 
ship on  the  part  of  their  leaders,  they  stood  for  two 
hours  crushed  by  this  deadly  fire,  making  no  effort  tc 
idvance  or  retreat.  Not  a  single  movement  was 
visible  throughout  the  immense  mass  during  the  whole 
time,  except  what  was  made  by  the  falling  ranks. 
The  brave  artillerymen  of  the  Guard  at  length  got 
tired  of  this  horrible  slaughter,  and  the  French  in- 
fantry advanced  and  swept  the  field.     Ney,  Murat 


124  THE  OLD   GUARD. 

and  Davoust,  commanding  the  right  wing,  now 
pushed  steadily  forward,  and  annihilated  half  of  tho 
Russian  line,  and  came  upon  the  uncovered  flank  ot 
the  remainder.  Feeling  themselves  not  strong 
enough  to  meet  the  whole  army,  they  called  aloud 
for  the  Young  Guard.  "  The  Young  Guard  !"  they 
exclaimed,  "  only  let  it  follow  them  at  a  distance. 
Let  it  show  itself,  and  take  its  place  upon  the 
heights.     They  themselves  would  then  finish  it." 

General  Belliard  was  again  sent  to  ISTapoleon  for  it, 
but  the  latter  still  hesitated.  When  Belliard  re- 
turned to  Murat  and  reported  the  indecision  of  the 
Emperor,  saying  that  he  "found  him  still  seated  in 
the  same  place,  with  a  sufiering  and  dejected  air, 
his  features  sunken,  and  gazing  around  him  with  a 
dull  look,  and  giving  his  orders  languishingly  in  the 
midst  of  these  dreadful  warlike  noises,  to  which  he 
seemed  completely  a  stranger,"  he  was  sad.  He, 
however,  understood  it,  for  he  had  seen  him  the  day 
before  halt  several  times  and  dismount,  and  lean  his 
head  upon  a  cannon,  apparently  in  deep  suffering. 
Sickness  had  prostrated  him.  But  Ney,  who  w^as  igno- 
rant of  this,  was  thrown  into  a  rage,  and  exclaimed. 
''  Are  we  come  so  far,  then,  to  be  satisfied  only  with 
afield  of  battle?  "What  business  has  the  Emperor 
in  the  rear  of  the  army  ?  There  he  is  only  withir 
reach  of  reverses,  and  not  of  victory."* 

*  Vide  Segiar. 


CHARGE   OF   CAULINCOUNT.  125 

Kot  long  after,  Napoleon  was  told  that  tl  e  cry  from 
the  whole  army  was  for  the  Guard,  to  which  he  re- 
plied, "  And  if  there  should  be  another  battle  to- 
morrow, where  will  be  my  army  to  fight  it  ?" 

Again,  for  the  fourth  time,  Murat  sent  to  him, 
asking  only  for  the  cavalry  of  the  Guard.  With  them 
he  would  turn  the  intrenched  heights,  with  their  ter- 
rible redoubt,  which  offered  almost  insuperable  ob- 
stacles in  front,  and  against  which  Eugene  was 
endeavoring  to  advance  under  a  most  destructive  fire 
from  the  artillery.  He  still  delayed  till  it  was  too 
late  to  take  advantage  of  the  crisis  into  which  affairs 
had  been  thrown.  That  redoubt,  however,  which  had 
engulfed  so  many  brave  French  soldiers,  must  be 
carried,  or  the  battle  be  lost ;  and  Murat  ordered 
Caulincourt,  who  succeeded  Montbrun  in  the  com- 
mand of  the  first  division  of  cavalry,  after  the  latter 
fell,  to  charge  the  Eussian  line,  and  breaking  through 
it,  dash  into  the  great  redoubt  by  the  gorge  in  rear, 
and  storm  the  battery  that  was  mowing  down  the 
ranks  of  Eugene.  This  brave  officer  was  general  in 
the  Guard,  and  the  whole  night  before  the  battle  had 
lain  awake  on  the  floor,  wrapped  in  his  cloak,  gazing 
on  the  miniature  of  his  young  wife,  whom  he  had 
married  but  a  week  previous  to  his  departure  from 
Paris.  He  was  sad  and  depressed,  and  seemed  to 
have  a  foreboding  of  the  fate  that  awaited  him.  As 
he  put  himself  at  the  head  of  the  cavalry,  he  found 


126  THE    OLD    GUARD. 

the  aides-de-camp  of  Moiitbrun  in  tears  at  the  loss  of 
their  commander.  "  Follow  me,"  said  he  :  "  weep 
not  for  him,  but  come  and  avenge  his  death."  In 
reply  to  Murat's  order  to  enter  that  redoubt  right 
through  the  Eussian  line,  he  said,  "You  shall  soon 
see  me  there,  dead  or  alive."  The  bugles  sounded 
the  charge,  and  putting  himself  at  the  head  of  this 
splendid  corps  of  cavalry,  he  dashed  forward  in  a 
gallop.  The  Russians  saw  the  coming  tempest,  and 
advanced  several  regiments  around  the  menaced 
point  to  meet  it,  while  the  plunging  fire  from  the 
redoubt  smote  the  swiftly-advancing  column  in  flank. 
Heedless  of  all,  young  Caulincourt  pressed  forward 
with  loud  cheers,  and  fiercely  riding  down  the  Rus- 
sian cavalry  sent  to  meet  him,  stormed  over  the  solid 
masses  of  infantry,  then  suddenly  wheeling  to  the 
left,  with  the  heavy-armed  cuirassiers,  while  the  light 
cavalry  was  left  to  occupy  the  discomfited  infantry, 
began  to  ascend  the  slopes  towards  that  terrible 
redoubt.  Eugene  had  just  been  driven  out  of  it  with 
dreadful  slaughter,  and  with  re-formed  columns  was 
again  advancing  to  the  attack.  His  bayonets  were 
already  gleaming  along  the  ascent,  when  the  driving 
column  of  the  cuirassiei-s,  enveloped  in  smoke,  was 
seen  fiercely  scaling  the  highest  summit.  The  sides 
of  that  hill  were  for  a  moment  "  clothed  in  glittering 
steel,"  the  next  under  a  redoubled  fire  from  all  the 
batteries,  those  fearless  riders  plunged  straight  into 


DEATH    OF    CAULINCOUNT.  12T 

the  volcano.  Eugene,  who  had  caught  a  glimpse  of 
the  column  as  it  glittered  along  the  sides  of  the  hillj 
was  filled  with  dread  when  he  saw  it  disappear  in 
that  gloomy  redoubt  which  lay  curtained  in  smoke. 
But  in  a  few  seconds  its  thunder  suddenly  ceased,  for 
its  "  fires  were  quenched  in  blood,"  and  as  the  smoke 
Blowly  rolled  away,  there  flashed  in  the  sun  the  shin- 
ing helmets  of  the  cuirassiers,  while  a  shout  long  and 
loud,  arose  from  its  top.  But  Caulinconrt  found 
there  his  grave — struck  by  a  musket  ball  as  he  was 
leading  his  men  into  the'entrance,  he  fell  dead  in  the 
very  moment  of  victory.  He  was  buried  in  the 
redoubt  he  had  so  nobly  won. 

He  was  brother  to  the  grand  equerry  of  Napoleon. 
When  the  victory,  together  with  its  loss,  was  reported 
to  the  Emperor,  he  turned  to  Caulincourt  and  said, 
"  You  have  heard  the  news,  do  you  wish  to  retire  ?" 
Overwhelmed  with  grief,  the  grand  equerry  made  no 
reply,  but  slightly  raising  his  hat,  as  if  to  thank  him, 
he  moved  forward,  while  the  big  tears  rolled  silently 
down  his  cheeks.  Caulincourt's  death  was  a  great 
loss  to  the  Guard,  and  bitterly  did  they  lament  him. 

At  the  close  of  the  battle,  Ney  and  Murat  sent 
again  for  the  Guard  to  complete  the  victory,  but  it 
was  not  given  them,  and  the  enemy  retired  in  good 
order,  leaving  I*Tapoleon  a  barren  triumph. 

At  night,  ]S"apoleon  called  Mortier  to  him,  and 
ordered  him  to  advance  with  the  Young  Guard,  but 


128  Tllh    OLD    GUARD. 

on  no  account  pass  the  ravine  which  divided  the  two 
armies — he  was  simply  to  guard  the  field  of  battle. 
He  even  called  him  back  to  make  sure  that  he  under 
stood  his  orders.  An  hour  after  he  sent  again,  com- 
manding him  neither  to  advance  nor  retreat,  what- 
ever might  happen. 

At  ten  o'clock,  the  impetuous  Murat,  whom  twelve 
hours  of  hard  fighting  could  not  exhaust,  went  him- 
self to  Napoleon  saying  that  the  enemy  were  crossing 
the  Moskwa  in  great  disorder,  and  asked  for  the 
cavalry  of  the  Guard  to  finish  it.  The  latter  checked 
the  ardor  of  his  brother-in-law,  and  sat  down  to  dic- 
tate the  bulletin.  The  Old  Guard  encamped  in 
solemn  silence  around  him,  but  being  aroused  by  an 
irruption  of  Cossacks,  they  were  compelled  to  stand 
to  arms,  thus  showing  how  meagre  the  victory  had 
been. 

In  the  morning  ^N^apoleon  rode  over  the  wreck- 
covered  field.  A  cold  fierce  wind,  a  driving  rain, 
and  a  sombre  sky,  imparted  still  greater  gloom  and 
desolation  to  the  scene.  The  hills  and  valleys  were 
literally  ploughed  up,  and  the  dead  lay  everywhere. 
The  wounded  Russians  were  dragging  themselves 
wearily  to  the  piles  of  the  dead  for  shelter  from  the 
storm,  while  low  moans  arose  on  every  side.  The 
bivouacs  of  the  French  were  silent,  and  officers  and 
soldiers  were  gathered  in  scattered  groups  around  their 
eagles,  sad  and  sombre  as  the  scene.     As  Napoleon 


THE   FIELD    OF   BATTLE.  12c 

passed  gloomily  along,  he  was  compelled  to  trample 
on  heaps  of  dead  men.  His  escort  did  the  same — and 
the  hoofs  of  one  of  the  horses  coming  down  on  a 
soldier  not  quite  dead,  extorted  a  low  cry  of  pain. 
On  hearing  it  Kapoleon  gave  a  sudden  shriek — the 
first  sound  that  had  escaped  his  lips  since  he  had 
begun  to  traverse  the  field. 

He  has  been  much  blamed  for  withholding  his 
Guard  in  the  several  crises  of  this  battle.  Segur  has 
drawn  him  as  utterly  indifferent  to  its  progress,  as 
sitting  with  drooping  head  and  stolid  countenance 
during  the  whole  of  it.  This  is  doubtless  exaggera- 
tion. He  evidently  was  not  himself  on  that  day — a 
sick  man  never  is.  There  are  times  when  the  body 
will  triumph  over  the  soul,  I  care  not  what  its  capa- 
city. Still  Napoleon  had  reasons  for  what  he  did. 
He  was  nearly  2,000  miles  from  Paris,  in  an  inhos- 
pitable country — far  removed  from  his  supplies,  and 
he  dared  not  risk  his  last  hope.  If  the  Guard  was 
severely  crippled,  the  army  would  be  completely 
hors  du  comhat. 

Besides,  he  expected  that  the  decisive  battle  would 
take  place  on  the  plains  of  Moscow — that  there  by 
the  cradle  of  the  Empire  the  army  would  make  its 
last  great  stand,  and  in  such  a  contingency  he  wanted 
at  least  the  Guard  intact,  to  meet  any  new  reinforce- 
ments Alexander  might  bring  against  him.     On  the 

other  hand,  if  by  bringing  up  his  resources  b^  could 
6^ 


13Q  THE    OLD   GUARD. 

have  aniiihilated  tlic  army,  the  anticipated  battle  could 
not  have  been  fought,  nor  would  the  enemy  have  been 
able  to  harass  his  retreat  as  it  did.  There  were  two 
sides  to  the  question,  which  Napoleon,  no  doubt, 
weighed  well.  At  all  events,  Bessieres,  the  com- 
mander of  the  Guard,  used  all  his  influence  to  induce 
the  Emperor  to  spare  it,  and  he  would  not  have  done 
this  without  good  reasons,  for  he  was  not  one  to  stand 
idle,  and  hear  the  murmurs  of  his  officers  and  men 
demanding  to  be  led  where  honor  and  glory  could  be 
won,  without  his  judgment  told  him  it  was  impe- 
riously necessary. 

The  next  day,  [N^apoleon  put  Mortier  with  a  part 
of  the  Young  Guard  under  Murat,  who  went  in  pur- 
suit of  the  enemy.  They  overtook  him  near  Kryms- 
koie,  established  in  a  strong  position.  Murat  was 
for  instantly  attacking,  but  Mortier  expostulated 
with  him,  showing  plainly  that  it  would  be  madness. 
But  Murat,  heedless  of  everything,  plunged  on,  thus 
compelling  Mortier  to  second  his  eiforts,  or  see  his 
superior  officer  sacrificed.  The  result  was  as  Mortier 
had  predicted — they  were  repulsed  with  heavy  loss, 
and  two  thousand  of  that  reserve  which  had  been 
husbanded  so  carefully  at  Borodino,  were  uselessly 
sacrificed.  The  same  sacrifice  on  the  field  of  battle, 
would  doubtless  have  annihilated  the  Russian 
army. 

But  Moscow,   the  goal    for  which  JS'apoleon  had 


IN    MOSCOW.  I3i 

toiled  over  so  many  battlefields,  was  at  last  won,  and 
he  sat  down  in  the  Kremlin — the  Old  Guard  occupy 
ing  another  portion  of  the  same  magnificent  edifice. 

The  conflagration  of  the  city  followed.  Bat 
after  the  fire  had  spread  on  every  side,  and  finally 
attacked  the  Kremlin  itself,  and  w^hen  a  spark  drop- 
ping on  a  single  powder  wagon  would  have  hurled 
him  and  the  Guard  he  had  reared  so  carefully,  into 
eternity,  and  after  he  was  told  that  the  Kremlin 
was  undermined  and  ready  to  lift  at  the  first  touch 
of  fire  and  bury  all  beneath  the  ruins,  he  obstinately 
clung  to  it  for  twenty -four  hours.  The  Old  Guard 
were  under  arms  the  w^hole  time,  and  when  at  last 
the  Emperor,  convinced  he  must  fly  or  be  burned 
alive,  consented  to  abandon  the  palace,  it  closed 
firmly  around  him,  and  passed  into  the  tempest  of 
fire.  Over  burning  timbers,  amid  suff'ocating  clouds 
of  smoke  and  ashes,  those  bear-skin  caps  w^ere  seen  to 
move  steadily  as  on  the  field  of  battle.  Hither  and 
thither  the  Conqueror  of  Europe  turned  in  vain. 
Every  way  was  blocked  up  by  fire,  and  it  was  only 
at  last  by  a  postern  gate  that  he  could  advance.  But 
this,  too,  led  into  nothing  but  flame.  The  streets 
became  indistinguishable  in  the  smoke  and  ruins. 
Only  one  winding  street  was  left,  and  this  seemed  to 
pierce  the  ocean,  of  fire  rather  than  lead  out  of  it. 
But  N'apoleon  boldly  entered  it,  while  fragments  of 
red  hot  iron  roofs  and  burning  timbers  tumbling  at 


132  TllK    OLD    UU ARD. 

his  feet,  and  aiTesting  his  progress,  and  the  crackling 
of  flames  and  crash  of  falling  houses,  conspired  to 
render  the  scene  most  appalling.  At  length  the 
guide  halted,  not  knowing  whither  to  proceed.  Here, 
probably,  would  have  ended  the  history  of  Napoleon 
and  his  Old  Guard,  had  it  not  been  for  some  pillagers 
who  happened  to  recognize  the  Emperor,  and  con- 
ducted him  to  a  part  of  the  town  wiiich  had  been 
burned  to  ashes  in  the  morning,  and  thus  left  an  open 
space  where  they  could  breathe  again. 

Still  the  danger  was  not  over — to  escape  he  was 
compelled  to  pass  a  long  train  of  powder  wagons  that 
were  slowly  making  their  w^ay  out  of  the  fire.  When 
they  at  last  reached  the  outskirts  of  the  city,  the  Old 
Guard  looked  as  if  it  had  been  in  a  hard  fought 
battle.  Their  faces  were  blackened  with  smoke,  their 
clothes  and  caps  singed  almost  to  a  crisp,  and  the 
brave  fellows  themselves  exhausted  from  being  sc 
long  compelled  to  breathe  hciited  air,  smoke,  and 
ashes.  But  calm,  like  their  great  leader,  whom  dan- 
ger always  tranquillized,  they  had  met  all  with  firm 
presence  and  unshaken  courage. 

After  the  destruction  of  the  city,  Napoleon  re- 
turned to  the  Kremlin,  which  a  battalion  of  the 
Guard  had  succeeded  in  saving.  Here  he  continued 
to  linger — almost  every  day  reviewing  his  Guard — 
until  a  month  had  passed  away,  and  the  last  of  Octo 
ber,  with  its  wintry  premonitions,  had  come. 


IIS    HONl!:STY.  133 

At  length,  however,  lie  awoke  from  his  strange  in 
fafcuatiou,  and  commenced  his  retreat.  From  that 
moment  his  Guard  became  his  stay,  and  ultimately 
his  salvation. 

An  incident  occurred  during  the  conflagration, 
which  illustrates  the  moral  character  of  the  Old 
Guard.  Bouvier-Destouches,  a  lieutenant  of  the 
mounted  grenadiers,  had  been  able  with  some  of  his 
squadron,  to  save  a  part  of  the  wealth  of  Prince 
Gagarin,  wlien  his  palace  was  enveloped  in  flames. 
As  a  token  of  gratitude,  the  prince  oftered  him  a 
wooden  dish  full  of  vessels  of  gold,  telling  him  to 
bury  them  till  the  fire  was  over,  and  then  he  could 
carry  them  away. 

The  Lieutenant  thanked  him,  but  refused  the  pre- 
sent, saying,  "  when  one  has  the  honor  to  belong  to 
the  Old  Guard,  the  only  recompense  which  can  please 
him  is  the  consciousness  of  having  done  his  duty." 
The  prince  still  urging  his  acceptance  of  the  gift,  the 
officer  took  the  vessels,  and  hurling  them  through  a 
window  of  the  pidace  into  the  river,  said  gaily, 
"  Prince,  mark  the  spot  where  they  fiill,  and  when 
order  is  re-established,  you  can  fish  them  up  again." 
Strict  honesty  was  one  of  the  leading  characteristice 
of  the  Old  Guard.  General  Dorsenne,  who  com- 
manded a  corps  of  grenadiers,  once  said,  "  If  I  had  a 
wagon  load  of  gold,  I  would  put  it  in  the  mess-roonj 
of  my  grenadiers — it  woiild  be  safer  there  than  under 


134  THE   OLD    GUARD. 

lock  and  key."  During  the  retreat,  as  the  arm^ 
approached  the  Beresina,  the  paymaster  of  the  Guard 
fearing  the  chest  would  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  Cos- 
sacks, distributed  the  whole  amount  among  the 
soldiers  of  the  Guard,  who  put  it  in  their  knapsacks. 
When  the  army  reached  the  other  side  of  the  river, 
it  was  rendered  up  again,  and  the  amount,  2,000,000 
of  francs,  found  entire,  with  the  exception  of  some 
two  hundred  francs,  which  had  sunk  with  the  grena- 
dier who  carried  it  in  the  waves  of  the  Beresina. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

1812. 

THE   OLD   GUARD    IN   RUSSIA. 

THE    RETREAT. 

Ssrrow  escape  of  Napoleon— Disorder  of  the  army  on  arriving  at  Smolensk'?— 
Firmness  of  the  Old  Guard— The  famine  in  the  city — Gloomy  departure — The 
Guard  passing  a  Russian  hattery — The  Old  Guard  at  Krasnoi — The  fall  of  Minsk, 
and  gloom  of  Napoleon — His  appeal  to  the  Old  Guard — liis  joy  at  Ney's  safety — 
The  Old  Guard  at  Beresina — Its  frozen  bivouacs — Anecdote  of  an  officer — De« 
parture  of  Napoleon  for  Paris,  and  the  breaking  up  of  the  Guard — Last  dreadful 
days. 

As  I  mentioned  at  the  close  of  the  last  chapter,  the 
moment  Napoleon  commenced  his  disastrous  retreat, 
the  Old  Guard  became  his  chief  reliance.  Not  only 
was  the  discipline  of  the  soldiers  so  perfect  that  no  dis- 
order of  the  army  of  the  line  could  affect  it,  their  cour- 
age so  lofty  that  overwhelming  numbers  of  the  enemy, 
storms,  frost,  and  famine,  could  not  shake  it,  but  the 
moral  character  they  possessed  was  a  guarantee 
against  all  plunder,  misrule,  and  desertion.     Amid 


136  THE   OLD   GUARD. 

tlie  motley  crowd  laden  with  booty  tliat  passed  froiE 
the  gates  of  Moscow,  the  firm  array  and  noble  bear, 
ing  of  that  Guard  gave  a  prestige  of  its  future  con- 
duct. Two  thousand  miles  lay  between  those  brave 
men  and  Paris — it  mattered  not,  closing  around  their 
beloved  chieftain,  tliey  were  prepared  for  any  fate 
that  might  befal.  A  few  battalions  were  left  behind, 
under  Mortier,  to  blow  up  the  Kremlin,  who,  after 
fighting  four  days  with  a  hundred  and  eighty  thou- 
sand pounds  of  powder  under  their  feet,  set  fire  to  it, 
and  then  joined  the  main  body. 

A  few  days  after  the  evacuation  of  Moscow,  'Nn- 
poleon  narrowly  escaped  being  made  prisoner  by  the 
Cossacks.  He  had  started  early  in  the  morning 'on 
the  Kaluga  road  with  onl)'  a  few  officers,  leaving  the 
four  squadrons  of  the  Guard,  his  regular  escort,  to 
overtake  him.  Before  they  arrived,  as  he  was  passing 
along  without  dreaming  of  immediate  danger,  he 
suddenly  saw  the  crowds  of  men  and  women  who 
filled  the  road  in  advance  with  vehicles,  hurrying 
back  in  terror,  overturning  the  wagons  and  creating 
a  scene  of  indescribable  confusion.  Supposing  it  a 
groundless  panic,  he  continued  to  move  forward.  At 
length  the  long  black  lines  which  had  remained 
motionless  in  the  distance,  began  to  advance,  and  a 
moment  after,  six  thousand  Cossacks  came  dashing 
down  in  a  wild  gallop.  Rapp  cried  out  to  the  empe- 
ror, ''  It  is  the  Cossacks,  turn  back."     The  latter  dis- 


APPROACH  TO  SMOLENSKO.  137 

oelieving  it,  or  too  proud  to  flj,  stood  still  The 
furious  hordes  were  already  surrounding  him,  when 
Rapp  seized  the  bridle  of  his  horse,  and  turning  him 
round,  exclaimed,  "  Indeed  you  must  turn  back." 
Napoleon  perceiving  at  length  the  full  extent  of  his 
danger,  immediately  _drew  his  sword  and  placing 
himself  with  Berthier  and  Caulincourt  on  the  side 
of  the  road,  calmly  waited  the  attack  of  the  barba- 
rians. They  approached  to  within  fifty  paces  when 
Rapp  flung  himself  on  the  foremost.  A  lance  pierced 
his  horse,  and  he  fell.  The  aides-de-camp  and  a  few 
horsemen  of  the  Guard,  extricated  him.  A  moment 
after,  however,  Bessieres  came  thundering  up  with 
the  cavalry  of  the  Guard,  and  swept  the  field. 

Soon  after,  winter  began  to  set  in,  and  the  snow 
covering  up  concealed  ditches  and  morasses,  made 
such  uncertain  footing  for  the  soldiers  and  unsafe 
ground  for  horses  and  artillery,  that  the  loss  of  the 
army  became  immense.  Over  the  field  of  Borodino 
laden  with  thirty  thousand  skeletons  and  wrecks  of 
every  description,  through  desolated  provinces,  living 
often  on  half  raw  horse  flesh  and  rye  water,  the  Old 
Guard,  firm  and  uncomplaining,  bore  its  emperor  on 
ti.I  at  last  they  approached  Smolensko,  tlie  place 
where  all  their  sorrows  were  to  end,  and  plenty  to 
be  exchanged  for  famine,  and  warm  bivouacks  take 
the  place  of  beds  of  snow  and  ice.  The  soldiers 
could  not  resist  the  ailuring  prospect,  and  broke  their 


138  THE   OLD   GUARD. 

ranks  and  hurried  forward,  pell-mell  towards  the  city 
The  commands  of  the  officers  were  disregarded,  even 
threats  of  punishment  produced  no  eifect.  Food, 
and  fire,  and  clothing,  and  rest,  were  before  them. 
Thegnawings  of  hunger,  pinching  frost,  and  starvation 
impelled  them  on,  and  they  swept  in  one  vast  crowd 
to  the  gates.  The  Old  Guard  alone  showed  no  symp- 
toms of  disorganization.  Half  naked,  and  cold,  and 
hungry,  they  also  were,  but  with  steady  step  and 
unalterable  mien,  they  continued  their  march  in 
as  perfect  order  as  when  they  first  crossed  the  Nie- 
men. 

The  French  troops  in  possession  of^Smolensko,  saw 
this  multitude  of  more  than  fifty  thousand  men 
approaching  with  haggard  looks  and  wild  cries,  and 
fearing  that  such  an  irruption  would  end  in  a  general 
pillage,  and  also  to  show  that  the  deaertion  of  theii 
colore  should  never  be  rewarded,  sternly  shut  the 
gates  upon  them.  Then  arose  the  most  doleful  cries, 
prayers  and  entreaties  were  mingled  with  threats 
and  curses,  and  mass  after  mass  precipitated  itself 
against  the  gates  to  burst  them  open.  Entreaties  and 
violence  were  alike  in  vain,  and  many  fell  down  dead 
from  exhaustion. 

Several  hours  after,  the  Guard  came  up,  its  ranks 
unbroken,  its  eagles  above  them  ;  and  moving  steadilj^ 
into  the  clamorous  and  excited  throng,  cleared  a  path 
for  themselves  to  the  gates.     Their  entrance  guaran- 


FAMESTE.  13S 

teed  the  safety  of  the  city.  The  poor  wretches  pressed 
after,  cursing  the  Guard,  demanding  if  they  were 
always  to  be  a  "  privileged  class,  fellows  kept  for 
mere  parade,  who  were  never  foremost  but  at  reviews, 
festivities,  and  distributions,  if  the  army  was  always 
to  put  up  with  their  leavings."  Despair  and  suffer- 
ing had  made  them  unjust. 

Alas,  this  city  which  Kapoleon  supposed  to  be  well 
supplied  with  provisions,  proved  barren  as  a  desert. 
To  their  horror,  instead  of  finding  abundance  to  eat, 
the  skeletons  of  horses,  along  the  streets,  from  which 
the  flesh  had  been  peeled,  showed  that  famine  had 
been  there  before  them.  Around  the  scantily  filled 
magazines  the  soldiers  crowded  with  agonizing  cries, 
and  could  scarcely  be  kept  from  murdering  each 
other  to  get  a  morsel  of  food.  But  this  dreadful 
example  had  no  effect  on  the  Guard.  They  knew 
that  more  than  a  month  of  toil  and  suffering,  of 
combats  w^ith  the  cold  and  the  enemy,  must  be  en- 
dured, before  they  could  reach  a  place  of  safety — 
yet  the  same  severity  and  order  marked  all  their  con- 
duct. 

After  remaining  here  five  days,  IN^apoleon  issued 
orders  to  re-commence  the  retreat.  The  debris  of  the 
cavalry  had  been  collected  together,  *:he  half-destroyed 
battalions  united  into  separate  corps,  w^hile  eight  or 
nine  thousand  infantry,  and  some  two  thousand  cav- 
alry of  the  Guard,  all  that  remained,  were  put  in  the 


140  TlIK    OLD    GUARD. 

best  conditions  their  straitened  circumstances  would 
permit — and  on  the  14th  of  November,  at  five  a'clock 
in  the  morning,  the  whole  marched  out  of  Smolensky 
Napoleon,  with  the  Guard  in  a  solid  column,  was  in  ad- 
vance. Its  march  was  firm  as  ever,  but  gloomy  as  the 
grave.  Daylight  had  not  yet  appeared,  and  that  dark 
column  passed  out  upon  the  snow  fields,  silent  as  death. 
Not  a  drum  or  a  bugle  cheered  their  march,  and  more 
sombre  and  sterner  than  all,  rode  Napoleon  in  their 
midst,  his  great  soul  wrung  with  silent  agony.  The 
cracking  of  whips  as  the  drivers  lashed  their  horses, 
or  a  smothered  imprecation  as  horses,  and  men,  and 
cannon  rolled  down  a  declivity  in  the  darkness 
together,  were  the  only  sounds  that  broke  the  stillness 
of  the  morning,  as  the  doomed  host  lost  itself  in  the 
deepening  gloom  of  a  northern  winter.  It  made  but 
thirteen  miles  the  first  day,  a  distance  it  took  the 
artillery  of  the  Guard  twentj^-two  Inmrs  to  accom- 
plish. Such  was  the  fii^t  day's  march,  making  scarce 
a  mile  an  hour  through  the  snow  and  frost,  yet  it 
was  the  easiest  they  were  to  have  for  a  month  to 
come. 

While  the  imperial  column  was  thus  toiling  for- 
ward, the  enemy  had  got  in  advance  and  occupied 
the  road  between  it  and  Ki-asnoi  with  a  battery  and 
thirty  squadrons  of  horse.  The  leading  corps  of  the 
French  army  was  thrown  into  disorder  by  this  sudden 
appearance  of  the  enemy,  and  would  have  brokfio 


DEVOTION  TO  NAPOLEON.  141 

and  fled,  but  for  a  wounded  officer,  the  brave  Excel- 
mans,  who,  although  having  no  command,  immedi- 
ately assumed  it  in  the  face  of  the  proper  leader,  and 
by  his  energy  and  daring,  restored  order.  He  thus 
succeeded  inputting  on  a  bold  front  which  inthni 
dated  the  squadrons,  and  they  dared  not  charge.  The 
battery,  however,  kept  up  an  incessant  fire,  the  balls 
at  every  discharge  crossing  the  road  along  which 
the  column  was  marching.  When  it  came  the  turn 
of  the  Old  Guard  to  pass,  they  closed  their  ranks 
in  a  solid  wall  of  flesh  around  the  emperor,  and 
moved  steadily  into  the  fire,  while  their  band  of 
music  struck  up  the  air,  "  Ou  peut-on  etre  mieux  qiC 
au  sein  de  safamillef  "Where  can  one  be  happier 
than  in  the  bosom  of  his  family  ?"  I'Tapoleon  stopped 
them,  exclaiming,  "  Play  rather  Veillons  au  salut  de 
VEmpire^'^  "  Let  us  watch  for  the  safety  of  the  Em- 
pire." 

As  soon  as  the  Old  Guard  had  passed,  the  Russian 
commander,  who  had  not  dared  even  with  his  vastly 
superior  force  to  arrest  this  terrible  corps,  threw 
twenty  thousand  men  across  the  road  on  all  the 
heights  around,  thus  dividing  Kapoleon  from  Eugene, 
Davoust,  and  ITey,  who  w^ere  bringing  up  the  rear. 
Mortier  had  escaped,  but  Eugene  was  compelled  to 
fight  his  way  through,  with  the  loss  of  nearly  his 
whole  division.      Davoust  was    next  in  rear,   Ney 


14:2  THE    OLD   GUARD. 

came  last,  thongli  no  news  had  been  received  fr'ona 
him  for  a  long  time. 

Although  at  Krasnoi  Napoleon  saw  the  enemj  in 
immense  force  surrounding  him  to  take  him  prisoner, 
he  would  not  leave  the  place  till  assured  of  the  safety 
of  his  lieutenants.  He  had  heard  all  day  long  the 
cannonading  which  annihilated  Eugene's  corps,  but 
could  not  succor  him. 

After  the  prince  had  escaped,  his  anxiety  for  Da- 
voust  and  ISTey  was  redoubled.  He  had  determined, 
before  the  arrival  of  Eugene,  to  face  about,  and  with 
his  feeble  force  attack  the  enemy,  and  thus  make  a 
great  effort,  but  a  still  greater  sacrifice  for  those  noble 
officers.  Still  holding  to  this  determination,  he  sent 
forward  Eugene  with  the  miserable  wreck  of  his  corps, 
while  he,  with  his  Old  Guard,  prepared  to  march  back 
on  the  Russian  army,  and  attempt  to  save  Davoust  and 
Ney.  The  night  before,  however,  the  Young  Guard, 
under  Roquet,  crushed  to  atoms  a  vanguard  of  Rus- 
sian infantry,  which  had  taken  position  in  front  of 
ISTapoleon,  to  cut  off  his  retreat.  The  latter  ordered 
him  to  attack  the  enemy  in  the  dark,  and  with  the  bay- 
onet alone,  saying  that  this  was  "  the  first  time  he  had 
exhibited  so  much  audacity,  and  he  would  make  him 
repent  it  in  such  a  way  that  he  should  never  again 
dare  approach  so  near  his  head-quarters."  The  com- 
plete success  of  the  expedition  detained  the  Russian 


SACRIFICE    OF    ITSPXF.  143 

army  twenty-four  hours — a  delay  of  vast  importance 
to  the  French. 

In  the  morning,  before  daylight,  Napoleon  placed 
himself  on  foot  in  the  midst  of  the  Old  Guard  and 
issued  from  Krasnoi.  As  he  grasped  his  sword,  he 
said,  "  I  have  sufficiently  acted  the  Emperor — it  is 
time  I  became  the  General."  Perhaps  there  is  not  a 
more  sublime  exhibition  of  heroism  in  the  whole  of 
his  career  than  this  effort  to  save  Davoust  and  I^ey. 
With  only  six  thousand  of  his  Guard,  and  some  five 
thousand  under  Mortier,  composed  chiefly  of  the 
Young  Guard,  he  turned  to  meet  eighty  thousand 
victorious  troops,  entrenched  on  commanding  heights 
and  protected  by  a  powerful  artillery.  The  enemy 
was  sweeping  round  him  in  a  vast  semi -circle  and  a 
few  hours  of  delay  might  cut  off  his  retreat  entirely, 
yet  he  resolved  to  march  back  iucstead  of  forward, 
and  to  lessen  his  force  in  a  hopeless  combat,  instead 
of  preserving  it  for  his  own  use.  He  well  knew  the 
peril  of  the  undertaking,  but  he  had  determined  to 
succor  iiis  brave  marshals  or  perish  in  the  attempt. 

Silently  and  sternly  this  brave  band  retraced  its  steps 
over  the  snow-covered  field,  uttering  no  complaint, 
and  ready  as  ever  to  be  sacrificed  at  the  will  of  theii 
beloved  leader.  When  daylight  dawned,  lo,  on  three 
sides  of  them  the  Russian  batteries  crowned  the 
heights.  Into  the  "centre  of  that  terrible  circle" 
the  old  Guard  moved  witli  an  intrepid  step  and  took 


144  THE   OLD   GUARD. 

np  its  position.  A  few  yards  in  'advance,  Mortiei 
deployed  his  five  thousand  in  front  of  the  whole  army. 
and  the  battle  opened,  if  that  can  be  called  a  battle 
in  which  a  small  devoted  band  stands  and  is  shot 
down,  solely  to  attract  the  enemy's  force  from  another 
quarter.  The  Russians  needed  only  to  advance,  and 
by  the  mere  weight  of  its  masses,  crush  that  Old 
Guard  to  atoms.  But  awed  by  its  firm  presence,  and 
more  than  all  by  the  terrible  renown  it  had  won,  and 
by  the  still  greater  renown  of  its  leader  whom  they 
regarded  almost  as  a  supernatural  being,  they  dared  not 
close  with  it.  They,  however,  trained  their  cannon 
on  the  ranks,  through  which  the  shot  went  tearing 
with  frightful  effect — but  without  a  movement  of  im- 
patience, the  living  closed  over  the  dead  to  be  trod- 
den under  foot  in  turn.  Thus  girdled  with  fire,  they 
stood  hour  after  hour,  while  Kapoleon  strained  hia 
eager  gaze  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  Davoust  and  Ney. 
At  length  he  saw  Davoust  alone,  dragging  his  weary 
columns  through  clouds  of  Cossacks  and  marching 
straight  on  the  Russian  batteries.  But  as  the  soldiers 
came  in  sight  of  Krasnoi,  they  disbanded,  and  mak- 
ing a  detour  to  escape  the  enemy's  guns,  rushed  pell- 
mell  into  the  place. 

Kapoleon  having  seen  half  his  Guard  shot  down, 
commenced  his  retreat,  leaving  Mortier  with  the 
Young  Guard  to  keep  the  enemy  in  check  as  long 
as  he  could,  telling  him  that  he  would  send  back  Da- 


A   REMNANT    LEFT.  145 

vonst  with  his  rallied  troops  to  his  assistance.  They 
must,  if  possible,  hold  out  till  night  and  then 
rejoin  him.  The  enemy  he  said  was  overwhelming 
him  on  every  side,  and  soon  his  retreat  would  be  entirely 
cut  off  and  he  must  push  on  and  occupy  the  passage 
of  the  Borysthenes,  or  all  would  be  lost.  He  pressed 
this  brave  marshal's  hand  sorrowfully  as  he  parted 
from  him,  and  traversing  Krasnoi,  cleared  the  road 
beyond  it  as  he  advanced.  But  Mortier  could  not 
obey  the  orders  he  had  received,  for  a  part  of  the  Young 
Guard  had  lost  an  important  post  they  had  been 
defending,  and  the  Russians  emboldened  by  Kapo- 
leon's  departure,  began  to  close  slowly  around  him. 
Roquet  endeavored  to  take  the  position  that  had  been 
lost,  and  from  which  a  Russian  battery  was  now  vomit- 
ing death  on  his  ranks,  but  of  the  regiment  which  he 
sent  against  it,  only  eleven  officers  and  fifty  soldiers 
returned  to  tell  how  they  fought  and  fell.  It  was 
then  that  Mortier  performed  that  admirable  move- 
ment which  shed  such  glory  on  him  and  the  Young 
Guard.  With  the  three  thousand,  all  that  was  left  0/ 
his  five  thousand,  he  wheeled  and  marched  in  ordi 
nary  time  out  of  that  concentrated  fire. 

'Nej  was  left  behind  abandoned  of  all,  and  appa 
rently  a  doomed  man,  yet  to  exhibit  still  greater  hero- 
ism, and  furnish  a  still  more  miraculous  page  in  the 
history  of  this  unparalleled  retreat. 

I^apoleon  continuing  his  retreat,   came   to  Dom- 
Y 


14:6  THK    OLD   GUARD. 

browna,  a  town  built  of  wood,  where  he  encamped 
for  the  night,  and  obtained  some  provisions.  In  the 
night  he  was  heard  groaning — the  name  of  'Nej  ever 
and  anon  escaping  his  lips — and  mourning  over  tho 
Bufferings  of  his  poor  soldiers,  and  yet  declaring  that 
it  was  impossible  to  help  them  without  stopping,  and 
this  he  could  not  do  with  no  ammunition,  provisions, 
or  artillery.  He  had  not  force  enough  to  make  a 
halt.  "  He  must  reach  Minsk  as  quickly  as  possible." 
Here  were  his  magazines,  his  great  hope,  towards 
which  he  was  toiling  with  the  energy  of  despair. 

But  scarcely  had  these  words  escaped  him,  when  a 
Polish  officer  arrived,  stating  that  Minsk  had  been 
taken  by  the  enemy.  Napoleon  was  struck  dumb  by 
this  new  and  overwhelming  disaster ;  then  raising  his 
head,  he  said,  "  Well,  there  is  nothing  left  now,  but 
to  clear  our  passage  with  our  bayonets." 

Despatches  were  immediately  sent  to  the  different 
portions  of  the  army  in  advance,  where  they  had 
remained  during  the  march  of  the  grand  army  to 
Moscow ;  and  then,  dejected  and  worn  out,  he  sunk 
into  a  lethargy.  It  was  not  yet  daylight  when  a  sudder 
tumult  aroused  him  from  his  stupor.  He  sent  Rapp 
out  to  ascertain  the  cause.  Bnt  the  uproar  increas- 
ing, he  imagined  that  a  nocturnal  attack  had  been 
made  upon  his  head-quarters,  and  immediately  in- 
quired if  the  artillery  had  been  placed  behind  a 
ravine  made  by  a  stream  that  ran  through  the  town. 


A    PANIC.  141 

Beino:  told  that  it  had  not,  he  hastened  thither  hi  in- 
self  and  saw  it  brought  over.  He  then  came  back  to 
his  Old  Guard  who  were  standing  to  arms,  and  ad- 
dressing each  battalion  in  turn,  said,  "  Grenadiers, 
we  are  retreating  without  being  conquered  by  the 
enemy  ;  let  us  not  be  vanquished  by  ourselves  !  Set 
an  example  to  the  army.  Several  of  you  have  already 
deserted  your  eagles,  and  even  thrown  away  your 
arms.  I  have  no  wish  to  have  recourse  to  military 
laws  to  put  a  stop  to  this  disorder,  but  appeal  entirely 
to  your  sense  of  duty.  Do  justice  to  yourselves.  To 
your  own  honor  I  commit  the  maintenance  of  your 
discipline." 

This  was  all  that  was  needed  to  make  the  grena» 
diers  firm  as  iron.  In  fact  it  was  rather  whipping 
the  other  troops  over  the  Old  Guard's  shoulders,  for 
amid  the  general  panic  that  prevailed  in  the  dark- 
ness, when  all  believed  the  enemy  was  upon  them,  N'a- 
poleon  on  his  return,  found  them  standing  in  perfect 
order,  and  ready  to  charge  on  ten  or  ten  thousand  alike. 

It  proved  a  false  alarm;  order  was  restored,  but 
only  to  be  lost  again  a  few  hours  after,  among  all  but 
the  Guard  and  a  few  hundred  men  belonging  to 
Prince  Eugene.  The  confused  mass  streamed  along 
the  road  towards  Orclia,  the  Guard  alone  showing 
the  array  of  disciplined  troops. 

Six  thousand  were  all  that  entered  the  place,  out  of 
that  magnificent  and  veteran  corps.      Here  the  dan- 


148  THE   OLD   GUARD. 

gers  thickejied ;  for  two  armies  were  cutting  off  tlieii 
retreat,  while  the  winter  was  deepening,  and  the  cold 
becoming  more  and  more  intense.  Therti  was  nothing 
before  the  fragments  of  the  grand  army,  but  deserts 
of  snow  and  ice  over  whose  desolate  bosom  Cossacks 
were  streaming,  and  the  artillery  of  the  enemy  thun- 
dering. Napoleon  resorted  to  threats  to  maintain 
discipline  among  his  troops,  but  they  had  lost  all  fear 
of  death — it  was  the  slow  torture  that  made  them 
wild  with  despair.  Nothing  but  the  firm  presence 
of  the  Old  Guard  and  Eugene's  few  men  prevented 
them  from  pillaging  Orcha,  although  situated  on  a 
friendly  frontier.  The  wonder  is  not  that  soldiers 
under  such  sufferings  should  become  disorganized,  but 
that  the  few  thousand  of  the  Old  Guard  could  resist 
the  infectious  example,  especially  as  by  their  orderly 
march  they  lost  all  the  provisions  by  day  and  fuel  by 
night,  which  the  stragglers  were  able  to  pick  up ;  and 
Buffered  dreadfully  the  want  of  both.  Minsk,  beyond 
the  Beresina,  had  kept  alive  their  hopes,  but  now 
nothing  but  frozen  deserts  lay  beyond  that  inhospita- 
ble river. 

Still  they  stood  firm.  Napoleon  had  said  to  them, 
"  Grenadiers  of  my  Guard,  you  are  witnesses  of  the 
disorganization  of  the  army.  The  greater  part  of 
your  brethren  have,  by  a  deplorable  fatality,  thrown 
away  their  arms.  If  you  imitate  this  sad  example, 
all  hope  will  be  lost.      The  safety  of  the  army  is  con- 


rrS    EAGLES    ARE    BURNED.  149 

fided  to  you.  You  will  justify  the  good  opinion  1  have 
had  of  you.  It  is  necessary  not  only  that  the  officerB 
among  you  maintain-  a  severe  discipline,  but  also  that 
the  soldiers  should  exercise  a  rigorous  surveillance, 
and  themselves  punish  those  who  attempt  to  leave 
their  ranks." 

This  appeal  to  their  honor  was  received  in  dead 
silence — not  in  words  but  in  deeds  they  were  to  prove 
his  confidence  well  placed  ;  and  shivering. with  cold 
and  reeling  from  exhaustion,  they  closed  sternly 
around  him. 

On  the  20th  of  November,  Napoleon  quitted  Orcha 
with  his  Guard,  leaving  behind  him  Eugene,  Mortier, 
and  Davoust  to  wait  for  Ney.  The  officers  declared 
it  was  impossible  that  he  should  escaj)e,  but  the  empe- 
ror would  not  abandon  the  last  hope.  He  knew  the 
indomitable  character  of  the  man,  and  that  he  would 
perform  everything  short  of  miracles  before  he  would 
surrender. 

Four  days  after  he  heard  that  the  heroic  marshal 
was  safe.  When  the  courier  brought  the  news  he 
leaped  into  the  air  and  shouted  for  joy,  it  was  a  sud- 
den flash  of  light  and  hope  on  the  night  of  his  dark- 
ness and  dejection. 

But  the  horrors  of  this  march  increased  as  he 
advanced  towards  the  Beresina,  and  when  he  arrived 
near  that  fatal  river,  he  ordered  all  his  eagles  to  be 
burned  J  together  with  half  the  wagons  and  carriages 


150  THE    OLD    GUARD. 

of  the  army,  and  the  hoi'ses  to  be  given  to  the  artil 
lery  of  the  Guard.  He  commanded  them  also  to  laj 
liands  on  all  the  draught  cattl§  within  their  reach, 
not  sparing  even  his  own  horses,  rather  than  leave  i" 
single  cannon  or  ammunition  wagon  behind.  Eigh- 
teen hundred  dismounted  cavalry  of  the  Guard  were 
rallied  into  two  battalions,  although  but  eleven  hun- 
dred of  them  could  be  supplied  with  muskets  or  car- 
bines. All  the  officers  of  the  cavalry  of  the  army 
that  still  had  horses,  formed  themselves  into  a  "  sacred 
squadron^^  for  the  protection  of  the  person  of  the 
emperor ;  and  with  this  and  the  Old  Guard  as  a  fixed 
and  central  orb  to  retain  the  vast  and  straggling  mul- 
titude— Kapoleon,  with  a  sack  of  poison  on  his  breast 
to  take  in  the  last  extremity  rather  than  fall  into  the 
hands  of  the  Cossacks,  plunged  into  the  gloomy  forest 
of  Minsk,  and  pressed  forward  to  the  desperate  con- 
flict that  awaited  him  on  the  banks  of  the  Beresina. 
Amid  the  double  darkness  of  the  night  and  the 
forest,  thousands  perished,  and  i>rapoleon  with  knit 
brow  and  compressed  lip  saw  men  in  raging  delirium 
constantly  falling  at  his  feet  wildly  entreating  for  help. 
The  frightful  disorder  that  arose  among  the  multitude 
during  the  awful  passage  of  the  Beresina,  when  the  Old 
Guard  at  last  began  to  cross,  shows  with  what  feelings 
the  army  regarded  it.  It  was  compelled  to  clear  a 
passage  for  the  emperor  with  the  bayonet,  though  one 
corps  of  grenadiers,  out  of  mere  compassion,  refused 


ITS   SUFFERINGS.  151 

to  exercise  force  on  the  despairing,  pleading  wretches, 
even  to  save  themselves. 

Having  reached  the  opposite  banks,  they  defended 
them  during  the  succeeding  days  of  storm,  and  bat- 
tle, and  death  that  marked  the  passage.  It  encamped 
near  the  ruins  of  Brelowa,  in  the  open  fields  with 
Napoleon,  also  unsheltered,  in  their  midst.  During 
the  day  they  were  drawn  up  in  order  of  battle,  while 
the  driving  snow  covered  them  as  with  a  shroud  ;  at 
night  they  bivouacked  in  a  square  around  their  suf- 
fering, yet  intrepid  leader.  These  veterans  of  a  hun- 
dred battles  would  sit  on  their  knapsacks  feeding 
their  feeble  fires,  their  elbows  j)lanted  on  their  knees, 
and  their  heads  resting  on  their  hands,  doubling 
themselves  up  for  the  twofold  purpose  of  retaining 
the  little  warmth  they  possessed,  and  of  feeling  less 
acutely  the  gnawings  of  empty  stomachs.  The  nights 
were  nearly  sixteen  hours  long,  and  either  filled  with 
clouds  of  snow,  or  so  piercing  cold  that  the  thermome- 
ter sunk  to  twenty,  and  sometimes  to  over  thirty 
degrees  below  zero.  Painful  marches,  fierce  battles, 
tattered  clothing,  cold,  and  famine  combined,  were 
too  much  for  human  endurance,  and  in  a  few  days  one 
third  of  the  Guard  perished. 

One  who  had  seen  that  corps,  on  a  review  day  in 
Paris,  would  not  have  recognized  its  uniform  in  the 
tattered  vestments  that  half  protected  their  persons. 
But  they  never  murmured,  never  broke  their  solid 


162  THE    OLD    GUARD. 

formation,  but  clenching  firmly  with  frozen  finger? 
their  muskets,  struggled  and  died  at  their  posts. 

The  following  solitary  incident  illustrates  the 
<;haracter  and  suffering  of  all.  One  day  a  mounted 
grenadier,  or  one  who  belonged  to  the  corps  of 
mounted  grenadiers,  though  no  longer  possessing  a 
horse,  approached  afire  occupied  by  various  soldiers  of 
the  army.  He  was  a  tall,  elegantly  formed  man,  with  a 
face  full  of  serenity  and  firmness.  He  was  covered 
with  tatters  of  every  color,  having  saved  nothing  of 
his  handsome  uniform  but  his  sabre  and  a  few  pieces 
of  the  fur  of  his  bear-skin  cap,  which  he  had  wrapped 
around  his  head  to  protect  it  from  the  frost.  His 
breath  had  congealed  into  icicles  which  hung  from 
his  lips  and  beard.  He  had  but  one  boot,  the  other 
foot  being  enveloped  in  shreds  of  coarse  cloth.  As 
he  approached  the  fire,  he  unrolled  a  small  piece  of 
linen  cloth  and  held  it  out  to  dry,  saying,  "  I  will 
finish  my  washing."  When  it  was  dry  he  rolled  a 
little  tobacco  in  it,  and  said  gaily,  "  We  are  used  up, 
but  it  is  all  the  same,  Vivs  VEmpereur.  We  have 
always  thoroughly  flogged  these  Russians,  who  are 
nothing  but  schoolboys  compared  to  us." 

Such  was  the  destitution  and  such  the  spirit  of  this 
glorious  old  corps.  It  seems  fabulous  that  any  body 
of  men  could  be  subjected  to  the  extremes  of  cold 
and  hunger  they  underwent,  and  one  be  left  alive  t^ 
tell  the  tale  of  their  sufferings  and  courage.    Ever 


NAPOLKON    LEAVES    IT.  153 

Bince  they  left  Smolensko  they  had  lived  on  horse 
flesh  half  roasted  and  rye  water  which  in  the  absence 
of  salt  they  seasoned  with  gunpowder. 

From  the  Beresina  to  Smorgoni,  the  grand  army 
exhibited  nothing  but  a  disordered  mob,  with  the 
exception  of  the  Guard.  At  the  latter  place  ISTapo- 
leon  gave  a  farewell  and  agonized  look  upon  it,  and  set 
out  for  Paris.  Murat  was  left  in  command,  but  the 
giant  mind  had  gone,  and  the  Old  Guard,  scorning 
to  take  in  its  keeping  an  inferior  person,  voluntarily 
broke  its  ranks,  and  dispersed  with  the  other  strag- 
glers. Its  solid  squares  were  no  longer  seen  at  night, 
nor  its  firm  array  by  day,  the  trust  and  hope  of  all. 
The  disorder  then  became  frightful,  and  the  last 
remaining  days  of  the  grand  army  presented  the 
accumulation  of  all  horrors.  The  Guard  still  num- 
bering three  thousand  men  partook  of  these  horrors 
and  sufferings.  The  weather  suddenly  became 
intensely  cold,  the  thermometer  standing  day  after 
day  from  twenty  to  thirty  degrees  below  zero. 
Floundering  through  snow  drifts,  piercing  dark  for- 
ests, the  frozen  nmltitude  dragged  itself  along,  the 
silence  broken  only  by  the  crackling  of  ice  under 
their  feet,  or  the  low  moan  or  shriek  of  despair,  or 
last  faint  cry  of  soldiers  as  they  fell  stiff  and  stark  on 
the  icy  earth.  The  living  trod  over  the  dead  with- 
out turning  aside  to  avoid  the  corpses.  They  stopped 
only  to  take  the  last  morsel  of  food  from  the  dying, 


154  THE    OLD    GUARD. 

and  to  pounce  like  wolves  npon  a  fallen  ]ior?e,  and 
quarrel  over  his  emaciated  carcass.  The  exhausted 
wretches  strained  their  bloody  eyes  on  the  pitilosg 
heavens,  and  then  with  heart-rending  sighs,  fell  to 
rise  no  more.  At  night  the  strongest  cut  down  fir 
trees  for  fire,  into  which  the  frozen  stragglers  as  they 
arrived  would  often  throw  themselves,  and  be  burned 
to  a  cinder.  The  frost  seemed  to  attack  the  brains  of 
many,  causing  the  most  frightful  delirium.  But  the 
details  are  too  horrible — let  them  rest  with  the  dead 
who  fattened  with  their  corpses  the  deserts  of  Russia. 

When  the  army  arrived  at  Wilna,  only  a  few  pla- 
toons of  the  Old  Guard  remained,  and  they  no  longer 
obeyed  the  beat  of  the  generale.  Murat's  shameful 
desertion  of  the  army  here  completed  the  wreck. 

The  remains  of  that  splendid  army  which  in  June 
had  crossed  the  Niemen  500,000  strong,  was  now 
chased  back  by  a  detachment  of  cavalry.  The  solid 
squares  of  the  Old  Guard  remained  in  Russia.  Many 
of  their  bivouacs  could  be  traced  in  the  spring  by 
the  circle  of  skeletons  that  encompassed  a  heap  of 
ashes.  That  "  column  of  granite"  had  melted  away, 
and  nothing  but  its  base  was  left  on  which  another 
was  to  be  speedily  reared. 

Bat  its  fame  lasts.  The  courage  that  nothing  could 
daunt,  the  patient  endurance  under  unheard  of  hor« 
rors,  the  sublime  moral  elevation  of  its  character 
its  steadfast  devotion  to  duty  amid  universal  disorder 


IS    LEFr    IN   RUSSIA.  15f) 

and  which  no  bad  examphi  nor  the  last  pangs  of  mortal 
agony  could  demoralize,  its  lofty  sense  of  honor  tri 
umphingover  famine  and  death,  will  claim  the  adrai 
ration  of  the  world  till  the  end  of  time. 


CHAPTER  X. 

1813. 

iJeorganlzfttlon  of  the  Army— Death  of  Bossicres— The  Old  Guard  at  Lutzen— 
Its  Last  Charge— Drouot ;  his  Character— Death  of  Duroc— Mournful  Scene 
around  the  Tent  of  Napoleon— The  Guard  in  Bohemia— Its  Astonishing  March  to 
Dresden— Its  Bravery— Napoleon  in  its  Squaras  on  the  Battle-field— Tableau— 
The  Old  Guard  at  Lelpzic- The  Retreat— Battle  of  Hanau— It  is  won  by  th« 
Guard — It  leaves  for  ever  the  Scene  of  its  Achievements. 

The  Russian  Campaign  had  swallowed  up  the 
French  armj,  and  Prussia  immediately  took  up  arms 
with  Russia  to  complete  the  destruction  of  Napoleon. 
False  and  treacherous,  the  former  deemed  that  now 
was  the  time  to  strike  her  unfortunate  ally.  But  this 
lofty  intellect  and  unconquerable  will  scorned  to  yield 
to  the  storm  that  was  about  to  burst  upon  him  in  his 
helpless  state.  He  looked  around  him  and  saw  only 
the  broken  fragments  of  an  army.  The  Old  Guard,  with 
its  artillery  and  cavalry,  was  gone.  Still  there  was  a 
nucleus  left.  B  e  had  but  eight  hundred  at  Marengo, 
and  yet  he  made  it  terrible  to  the  enemy.  It  is  true 
ho   was   without   cannon — nearly   a   thousand   were 


CREATION    OF   A   NEW    AEMY.  157 

strewed  by  the  way  in  his  retreat  from  Russia— he  had 
no  trained  horses,  they  had  died  or  been  eaten  for 
food,  and  there  were  disciplined  and  strong  armies, 
well  supplied  both  with  artillery  and  cavalry,  to  be 
met.  Already  they  were  marching  on  the  possessions 
of  France. 

Yet  from  this  desolation,  I^apoleon  determined  to 
create  an  army  with  both  artillery  and  cavalry,  and 
roll  back  the  presumptuous  enemy  who  dared  to 
menace  the  soil  of  France,  and  assail  his  throne. 
Four  veteran  res^iments  of  the  Old  Guard  remained 
in  Spain — these  were  recalled.  Cannon  from  the 
arsenals,  and  artillerists  from  the  ships  of  war  were 
collected,  horses  purchased,  and  a  conscription  set  on 
foot,  which  soon  brought  to  his  standard  a  vast  army. 
But  such  had  been  the  drain  on  France  to  support 
the  formsr  wars,  that  the  conscription  descended  to 
mere  youths,  seventeen  years  old,  and  the  pupils  of 
the  Guard  were  brought  forward.  The  IN^ational 
Guard  of  France,  a  hundred  thousand  well  disci- 
plined men,  were  also  incorporated  into  the  army, 
while  the  Guards  of  Honor,  as  they  were  called,  com- 
posed of  the  sons  of  wealthy  and  distinguished  fami- 
lies, recruited  the  cavalry.  These  guards  of  honor 
were  mounted  bodies  of  men  in  the  various  cities  of 
France — organized  merely  to  receive  and  attend 
Napoleon  when  he  passed  through  their  respective 
places,  and  were  wholly  unfit  for  service.     The  eliU 


158  THE    OLD   GUARD. 

of  the  army  of  the  line  were  taken  to  compose  the 
Old  Guard,  and  it  soon  assumed  its  former  ap 
pearance. 

The  greate&t  enthusiasm  prevailed  among  the 
soldiers,  and  soon  this  new  army  took  up  its  line  of 
march  for  Germany,  to  join  the  relics  of  the  different 
corps  that  still  remained  there  after  the  retreat  from 
Russia. 

Although  deficient  in  cavalry,  Napoleon  imme- 
diately assumed  the  offensive,  and  pressed  forward  to 
seek  the  allies  near  Leipzic.  Poserna,  on  the  way  to 
Lutzen,  w^as  defended,  and  in  taking  those  heights, 
Bessieres,  the  commander  of  the  Old  Guard,  was 
struck  dead  by  a  cannon-ball.  This  brave  officer, 
who  had  n'sen  from  the  ranks  to  Marshal  of  the 
empire,  was  dearly  loved  by  the  Guard.  When  it  was 
composed  of  but  eight  hundred  men,  and  laid  the 
foundation  of  its  fame  at  Marengo,  he  was  at  the  head 
of  it.  Through  all  the  terrible  campaigns  of  Napo- 
leon in  Italy  and  Spain,  at  Austerlitz,  Wagram,  and 
Eylau,  through  all  the  disastrous  retreat  from  Russia, 
he  had  headed  its  invincible  columns.  Noble  in 
heart,  heroic  in  courage,  of  great  integrity  of  charac- 
ter, his  death  was  an  irreparable  loss  to  the  Emperor 
and  to  the  Guard.  His  body  was  embalmed,  and 
sent  to  the  Hotel  des  Invalides. 

That  night  Naj^oleon  encamped  in  the  plain  where 
rose  the  tomb  of  Giistavus  Adolphus.     The  next  day 


BRAVERY    OF   THE   CONSCRIPTS.  150 

the  battle  of  Lntzeii  was  fought.  Early  in  the  morn- 
ing the  heavy  cannonading  on  the  right,  where  l^ey 
commanded,  showed  that  there  was  to  be  the  weight 
of  the  battle.  In  a  short  time,  the  concentration  of 
heavy  masses  in  that  part  of  the  field  by  the  enemy, 
had  driven  back  the  French  a  mile  and  a  half.  The 
five  villages,  which  formed  their  stronghold,  were  all 
carried,  after  having  been  taken  and  retaken  several 
times.  N'ey  had  exhibited  his  old  valor,  and  the 
young  conscripts  under  him,  who  then  for  the  first 
time  were  under  fire,  behaved  like  veterans.  "  Five 
times^'^  said  he,  "  I  led  back  those  brave  youths  to 
the  charge."  But  their  valor  was  vain,  and  the  victo- 
rious enemy  was  pushing  them  fiercely  from  their 
positions. 

When  the  news  of  this  disaster  reached  Napoleon, 
he  turned  to  Berthier  and  Caulincourt,  with  the 
exclamation  "  Ha !"  accompanied  by  a  look  which 
"  froze  every  heart  around  him  with  horror."  The 
day  was  wellnigh  lost,  and  he  knew  it.  But  instead 
of  yielding  to  discouragement,  he  rose  with  the 
increasing  danger,  and  set  off  on  a  gallop,  followed  by 
his  invincible  Guard,  to  the  scene  of  disaster. 

Where  the  cannonading  was  heaviest,  and  the 
clouds  of  smoke  rose  thickest,  thither  he  directed  his 
course.  The  field  was  covered  with  fugitives ;  while 
the  columns  that  were  still  unbroken,  were  slowly 
retiring.     Clouds  of  the  enemy's  cavalry  were  wait- 


160  THE    OLD    GUAKU. 

iiig  impatiently  till  the  last  village  was  cleared,  and 
the  retreating  troops  should  deploy  in  the  open  plain, 
to  sweep  down  on  them,  and  complete  their  destruc- 
tion. 

But  hope  revived  at  Kapoleon's  presence — the 
conscripts  rallied  again,  and  shouts  of  "  Vive  VEni- 
'percur^''  rolled  along  the  lines.  Placing  himself 
behind  JS'ey's  division,  he  rallied  it,  and  sent  it  for- 
ward to  tlie  attack.  Intrepidly  advancing,  it  drove 
back  the  enemy,  and  retook  a  portion  of  the  first  vil- 
lage. But  the  allies  receiving  reinforcements,  returned 
to  the  assault,  and  a  bloody  combat  ensued  around 
the  shattered  houses. 

ISTeither  party,  however,  could  win  the  victory,  but 
Kapoleon  gained  what  he  stood  in  desperate  need  of 
— time  for  the  foot  soldiers  and  artillery  of  the  Guard 
to  arrive.  Soon  the  bear-skin  caps  appeared,  and 
infantry  and  artillery  came  thundering  up  to  the 
Emperor,  who  had  hardly  time  to  form  its  massive 
columns  of  attack,  when  the  French  were  again 
driven  out  of  the  village,  while  the  shouts  of  the 
enemy  were  heard  above  the  roar  of  the  cannon.  The 
Emperor  threw  one  glance  upon  his  flying  troops, 
and  then  ordered  Drouot,  with  sixty  guns,  to  advance, 
and  ten  battalions  of  the  Guard  to  follow.  This 
dreadful  artillerist  cleared  a  way  for  his  cannon 
through  the  crowd  of  fugitives  that  covered  the 
plain,  and  opened  his  swift  and  deadly  fire.     Its  etfect 


CHARGE    AT   LUTZEN.  161 

was  tremendous  !  To  the  distant  observer  the  guns 
never  seemed  to  stop,  but  to  fire  as  they  moved. 
Pressing  steadily  after,  the  Guard  enveloped  in 
smoke,  pushed  on,  carrying  village  after  village  with 
loud  hurrahs.  In  the  close  and  deadly  combat,  offi-- 
cers  were  falling  on  every  side,  and  the  enemy  strug- 
gled nobly  to  retain  some  portion  of  their  conquests 
— flinging  themselves,  cavalry  and  infantry,  in  des- 
perate valor,  on  those  swiftly  advancing  columns. 
But  onsets  of  cavalry,  the  fire  of  the  artillery,  were 
alike  unheeded — in  a  solid  mass  those  bear-skin  caps 
w^ere  seen  moving  through  the  smoke,  while  the  flash 
of  their  guns  kept  receding  farther  and  farther,  in 
the  distance.  Twilight  gathered  over  the  landscape, 
yet  the  outlines  of  that  resistless  column  were  revealed 
by  the  blaze  of  its  guns,  still  advancing,  till  the  field 
was  swept  and  the  victory  gained. 

Kext  morning  the  track  of  the  Guard  could  be 
followed  by  the  heaps  of  the  dead  it  had  left  in  its 
frightful  passage. 

The  sight  of  the  French  conscripts  who  had  fallen 
round  those  villages  was  mournful  in  the  extreme. 
Mere  youths — their  forms  not  yet  developed  into 
manhood,  their  boyish  features  covered  with  blood, 
and  stifiened  in  death — gave  a  still  more  horrid  aspect 
to  the  field,  and  uttered  a  new  malediction  on  war. 


162  THE  OLD  GUAED. 


CHARACTER  OF  DROUC  P. 


Drouot  wsis  perhaps  the  most  remarkable  artil 
Icrist  the  world  has  ever  produced.  He  commanded 
•the  artillery  of  the  Guard  to  the  last,  and  made  it 
the  most  terrible  and  deadly  that  ever  swept  a  battle- 
field. Napoleon  always  kept  him  for  great  emer- 
gencies, and  when  this  bold,  stern  man,  received 
an  order  in  the  midst  of  a  battle  to  bring  up  his 
guns,  he  knew  it  was  not  to  defend  a  point,  but  to 
recover  a  half-lost  field,  and  move  fiercely  and  stea- 
dily on  victorious  and  overpowering  troops.  At  such 
times  he  set  ofi"  on  a  gallop,  w^iile  the  field  shook 
under  the  weight  of  his  cannon,  as  they  came  thun- 
dering after.  He  was  perfectly  aware  of  the  danger- 
ous.position  he  held,  and  when  about  to  advance  on 
the  enemy,  he  always  dismounted,  and  placing  him- 
self on  foot,  in  the  midst  of  his  guns,  dressed  in  his 
old  uniform  of  general  of  artillery,  walked  firmly 
into  the  hottest  fi]*e.  He  was  somewhat  superstitious' 
about  this  uniform — he  had  never  been  wounded 
in  it,  and  hence  came  to  regard  it  as  a  sort  of  charm, 
or  at  least  believed  that  good  luck  went  with  it ; 
and  strange  to  say  in  all  the  bloody  and  fright- 
ful combats  he  fought,  neither  he  nor  his  horse  was 
ever  wounded.  He  always  carried  a  Bible  with  him 
■ — it  was  on  his  person  in  battle,  and  the  reading  of 
it  constituted  his  chief  delight.      He  made  no  secret 


DKOLOT.  168 

3f  tins  among  the  staff  of  the  Emperor,  which  showed 
more  courage  than  to  face  a  battery.  He  knew 
everything  belonging  to  his  profession,  and  yet  was 
modest  as  the  most  humble.  His  character  seemed 
to  be  affected  by  the  life  he  led,  in  a  remarkable 
degree.  Its  solidity,  the  absence  of  all  show  and  the 
presence  of  real  strength,  his  quiet  and  grave  de- 
meanor, and  the  steadfastness  of  his  affection  and 
purpose,  reminded  one  of  the  solidity  and  strength  of 
his  artillery. 

In  I^apoleon's  advance  to  Dresden,  and  passage  of 
the  Elbe  at  that  place,  an  incident  occurred  that  illus- 
trates the  characters  of  both.  After  bridges  of  rafts 
had  been  constructed,  and  a  small  portion  of  the 
troops  got  over  during  the  night  time,  Kapoleon  saw 
fifty  cannon  of  the  enemy  advance,  and  threaten  a 
determined  resistance  to  the  passage.  He  imme- 
diately shouted  to  Drouot,  "  a  hundred  pieces  of 
cannon  !"  The  artillery  of  the  Guard  was  hurried  up, 
and  Drouot  posted  them  on  the  heights  of  'Preisnitz. 
Napoleon,  who  was  a  little  distance  in  the  rear,  was 
impatient,  because  the  effect  of  the  fire  was  not  im- 
mediately visible,  and  reproached  the  former  bitterly 
for  not  placing  his  pieces  better,  even  pulling  the  old 
soldier's  ears  in  his  pet.  Drouot  calmly  replied, 
"  that  the  guns  could  not  be  better  placed  ;"  and  so  it 
proved,  for  under  tlie  tremendous  fire  which  he  kept 
up,  the  Kussian  batteries  were  soon  silenced. 


164  TUIO    OLD    aUAUl). 

At  the  battle  of  Bautzen,  which  soon  followed, 
Drouot's  artillery  scourged  the  enemy  severely  while 
the  Old  Guard  itself  sustained  the  grand  attack  in  the 
centre,  by  which  the  victory  was  gained.  Tts  squares 
surrounded  the  tent  of  Wapoleon  that  evening,  while 
its  bands  of  music  greeted  liim  with  victorious  airs. 

By  daybreak  next  morning  the  pursuit  was  com- 
menced, and  pushed  with  the  utmost  fierceness.  The 
allies  had  marched  all  night,  but  their  rear-guard 
was  soon  overtaken,  posted  on  strong  heights,  with 
forty  pieces  of  cannon.  IN'apoleon  dared  not  attack 
it  till  the  cavalry  of  the  Guard  should  arrive.  This 
body  of  men,  six  thousand  strong,  no  sooner  ap- 
proached than  it  was  put  under  Latour  Maubourg, 
and  advancing,  overthrew  the  Kussian  cavalry  in  the 
plains,  and  rushing  with  loud  shouts  up  the  slopes 
of  the  heights,  forced  the  enemy  to  retreat. 

The  defeated  allies,  however,  retired  in  such  good 
order,  that  no  decisive  blow  could  be  struck,  and 
!N^apoleon,  enraged  to  see  a  great  victory  turn  out  so 
barren  of  results,  pushed  forward  with  his  escort  to 
give  greater  energy  to  the  attacks,  and  was  still 
pressing  on  amid  the  cannon-balls  that  were  whistling 
about  him,  when  one  of  his  escort  was  struck  at  his 
side.  He  turned  to  Duroc  and  said,  "  fortune  is 
resolved  to  have  one  of  us  to-day" — prophetic  words 
' — a  few  moments  after,  as  he  was  going  along  a  nar 
row  way,    followed   by  his  escort  four  abreast  on 


DKATll    OF    1)U»(-*C'.  164 

a  rapid  trot,  a  oaniioii-hall  struck  a  tree  near  him, 
glanced  and  killed  Kugoner,  and  mirtally  wounded 
Diiroc.  "When  this  was  announced  to  Napoleon,  he 
dismounted,  and  gazed  long  and  stendy  on  the  bat- 
tery from  which  the  shot  had  been  fired,  then  entered 
the  cottage  into  which  the  Grand  Marshal  had  been 
carried  and  where  he  lay  dying. 

This  scene  I  have  described  in  another  work, 
but  I  will  quote  from  that  description  the  portion 
which  illustrates  the  relation  that  existed  between 
Kapoleon  and  his  Guard.  "  After  the  last  afflicting 
interview  with  the  dying  hero  and  friend,  he  ordered 
his  tent  to  be  pitched  near  the  cottage  where  he  lay, 
and  entering  it,  passed  the  night  all  alone  in  incon- 
solable grief.  The  Old  Guard  formed  their  pro- 
tecting squares  about  him,  and  the  fierce  tumult  of 
battle  gave  way  to  one  of  the  most  touching  scenes  in 
history.  Twilight  was  deepening  over  the  field,  and 
the  heavy  tread  of  the  ranks  going  to  tlieir  bivouacs, 
the  low  rumbling  of  artillery  wagons  in  the  dis- 
tance, and  all  the  subdued  sounds  of  a  mighty 
liost  about  sinking  to  repose  rose  on  the  evening  air, 
imparting  still  greater  solemnity  to  the  hour.  Napo- 
leon with  his  grey  coat  wrapped  al)out  liim,  his 
elbows  on  his  knees,  and  his  forehead  resting  on  hi? 
hands,  sat  apart  from  all,  buried  in  the  profoundest 
melancholy.  His  most  intimate  friends  dared  not 
approach   him,    and   his   fayorite    ofiicers   stood  in 


166  THIO    OLD    GUARD. 

groups  at  a  distance,  gazing  anxiously  and  sadly  or, 
that  silent  tent.  But  immense  consequences  were 
hanging  on  the  movements  of  the  next  morning — a 
powerful  enemy  was  near  with  its  an-ay  yet  un- 
broken— and  they  at  length  ventured  to  approach  and 
ask  for  orders.  But  he  only  shook  his  head,  exclaim- 
ing *  everything  to-morrow,'  and  still  kept  his  mourn- 
ful attitude.  'No  sobs  escaped  him,  but  silent  and 
motionless  he  sat,  his  pallid  face  buried  in  his  hands, 
and  his  great  heart  wrung  with  agony.  Darkness 
drew  her  curtain  over  the  scene,  and  the  stars  came 
out  one  after  another  in  the  sky,  and  at  length  the 
moon  rose  over  the  hills,  bathing  in  her  soft  beams 
the  tented  host,  while  the  flames  from  burning  villages 
in  the  distance,  shed  a  lurid  light  through  the  gloom, 
and  all  was  sad,  mournful,  and  sublime.  There  was 
the  dark  cottage  in  which  Duroc  lay  dying,  with  the 
sentinels  at  the  door,  and  there,  too,  was  the  solitary 
tent  of  ISTapoleon.  Around  it  at  a  distance,  stood  the 
squares  of  the  Old  Guard,  and  nearer  by  a  silent  group 
of  chieftains,  and  over  all  lay  the  moonlight.  Those 
brave  soldiers,  filled  with  grief  to  see  their  beloved 
chief  bowed  down  with  such  sorrow,  stood  for  a  long: 
time  tearful  and  silent,  except  as  one  would  say  to  his 
comrade,  '  Our  poor  Emperor  has  lost  one  of  his  chil- 
dren.' At  length,  to  break  the  mournful  silence,  and  to 
express  the  sympathy  they  might  not  speak,  the  bands 
struck  up  a  requiem   for  the   dying  Marshal.     The 


GRIEF    OF    NAPOLEON.  167 

melancholy  strains  arose  and  fell  in  prolonged  echoes 
over  the  field,  and  swept  in  softened  cadences  on  tho 
ear  of  the  fainting  warrior — but  still  Kapoleon  muNcd 
not.  The  J  then  changed  the  measure  to  a  trium- 
phant strain,  and  the  thrilling  trumpets  breathed  forth 
their  most  joyful  notes,  till  the  night  rung  with  the 
melody.  "With  such  bursts  of  music  had  they  been 
used  to  welcome  their  chief  after  a  day  of  battle  and 
of  victory,  till  his  eye  kindled  in  exultation — but  now 
they  fell  on  a  dull  and  listless  ear.  It  ceased,  and 
again  the  mournful  requiem  filled  the  air.  But 
nothing  could  arouse  him  from  his  agonizing  reflec- 
tions— his  friend  lay  dying,  and  the  heart  he  loved  so 
dearly  was  throbbing  its  last  pulsations." 

This  scene  exhibits  in  a  touching  manner  the  sym 
pathy  that  existed  between  Kapoleon  and  his  Guard, 
— and  how  heroically,  yet  how  tenderly,  was  it  here 
expressed.  Enfolding  him  in  their  rock-fast  squares, 
their  hearts  melted  at  the  sorrow  of  him  they  protected, 
and  the  trumpets  that  but  an  hour  before  heralded 
their  desperate  charge,  strove  to  impart  consolation  by 
expressing  the  grief  they  dare  utter  in  no  other  way. 
And  then  the  thrilling  blast  upon  blast,  and  loud 
exultant  greeting,  to  rouse  that  overwhelmed  heart 
from  its  stupor,  and  rekindle  the  emotions  that  were 
wont  to  sway  it— how  simple,  yet  how  grand. 

At  length  ]N"apoleon  entered  Dresden,  and  an  arm  is* 
tice  was  agreed  upon.   It  ended,  however,  without  any 


J  68  THE   OLD    QUAKl). 

result,  except  to  send  Austria  over  to  the  side  of  the 
allies.  Napoleon  now  had  Russia,  Prussia,  Austria. 
Sweden,  and  Bohemia,  combined  against  him,  still  he 
evinced  no  discouragement.  Looking  calmly  around 
on  the  difficulties  that  environed  him,  he  prepared  to 
meet  them  with  that  genius  and  iron  will  before 
whicli  the  sovereigns  who  sought  his  life,  had  so  often 
humbled  themselves. 

But  prior  to  his  departure  from  Dresden,  he  had  a 
grand  review  of  his  army,  which  took  place  in  a  vast 
plain  near  the  city.  Accompanied  by  the  King  of 
Saxony  and  his  suite  and  the  Marshals  of  the  Empire, 
he  galloped  the  whole  length  of  the  line.  As  the 
Guard,  twenty  thousand  strong,  defiled  before  him, 
it  seemed  to  carry  the  j>restige  of  victory  in  its  terri- 
ble standards.  He  then  ordered  a  great  banquet  for 
the  whole  of  the  Guard. 

At  the  commencement  of  hostilities,  Marmont, 
Macdonald,  and  Ney,  who  were  in  Bohemia,  were 
compelled  to  retire  before  the  superior  force  of  th« 
enemy.  When  the  news  of  the  successive  disasters 
of  these  marshals  reached  Napoleon,  he  took  with  him 
the  Old  Guard,  and  hastened  to  their  relief.  Infantry, 
cavalry,  and  artillery,  went  thundering  through  the 
Bohemian  Mountains  ;  and  pouring  like  a  torrent  on 
the  victorious  enemy,  rolled  them  back  through  tha 
Silesian  plains.  In  five  days  the  Old  Guard  recovered 
all  that  had  been  lost. 


EXTRAORDINARY  MARCH.  169 

But  while  the  prospects  were  brightening  around 
liim  in  Bohemia,  a  dark  and  ominous  storm  was 
gathering  over  Dresden.  St.  Cyr  with  only  thirty 
thousand  men,  had  been  left  in  possession  of  this  city, 
against  which  the  emperor  believed  no  attack  would 
be  made.  But  suddenly  a  hundred  and  twenty  thou 
sand  men  and  five  hundred  pieces  of  artillery  dark- 
ened the  heights  around  it.  Couriers  were  hur- 
riedly despatched  to  Napoleon,  announcing  the 
fact,  who  immediately  put  forth  one  of  those  pro- 
digious efforts  to  save  it,  for  which  he  was  remark- 
able. He  took  with  him  his  conquering  Guard, 
and  set  out  for  the  city.  Although  for  four  days  it 
had  marched  on  an  average,  twenty-five  miles  a  day, 
fighting  its  passage  besides,  and  slain  six  thousand 
men,  it  cheerfully  turned  its  steps  towards  Dresden. 
Men  gazed  with  astonishment  on  its  swift  movement. 
Although  it  w^as  the  month  of  August  and  the  soldiers 
were  worn  out  with  their- previous  marches  and  com- 
bats, they  swept  forw^ard  with  alacrity.  Daybreak 
found  them  on  the  road,  and  night  still  in  motion. 
Napoleon  in  their  midst  was  devoured  with  the  most 
painful  anxiety.  Knowing  that  the  city  could  hold 
out  but  a  short  time  against  the  overwhelming  force 
gathered  around  it,  he  urged  his  faithful  troops  to 
their  utmost  speed.  He  wanted  to  give  that  Guard 
wings  to  transport  it  to  Dresden.  Breathless  courier? 
dashing  in  one  after  another,  telling  him  that  if  he 


170  THE   OLD   GUARD. 

did  not  arrive  soon  all  would  be  lost^  added  to  hig 
impatience. 

The  troops  had  msirched  forty  leagues  in  four  days, 
and  seemed  about  to  break  down.  Napoleon  saw 
that  he  had  overtasked  them,  and  fearing  they 
would  give  out  altogether,  ordered  twenty  thousand 
bottles  of  wine  to  be  distributed  among  them 
Three  thousand,  however,  were  all  that  could  be 
obtained.  Refreshed  by  this  scanty  supply,  they 
pressed  forward,  and  at  length  from  the  heights  that 
overlooked  the  city,  gazed  down  on  the  thrilling 
spectacle.  The  two  hosts  were  engaged,  and  the 
thunder  of  cannon  roll'ed  in  heavy  explosions  over 
the  hills.  Columns  of  attack  were  already  forming, 
and  the  innumerable  array  was  swiftly  closing  around 
their  comrades  who  were  bravely  bearing  up  against 
the  shock.  The  Old  Guard  at  once  forgot  their  weari- 
ness at  the  sight — they  saw  their  presence  had  never 
before  been  so  urgently  needed,  and  with  proud  hearts 
they  thought  how  soon  their  eagles  would  be  soaring 
over  that  tumultuous  field,  and  their  dread-  standards 
waving  above  a  beaten  foe.  Like  a  resistless  torrent 
they  passed  down  the  slopes  and  crowded  swiftly  for- 
ward over  the  bridges.  The  inhabitants,  overjoyed  at 
the  sight  of  these  renowned  troops,  rushed  toward  tliem 
with  wine  and  bread — and  though  the  wearied  sol 
diers  were  parched  with  thirst,  each  and  all  refused  the 
proffered   refreshments,  and    marched   steadily   and 


ARRIVKS    IN    DRESDEN.  171 

swiftly  on  to  the  point  of  danger.  They  were  soon 
standhig  side  by  side  with  their  comrades  who  had 
combated  so  bravely,  and  with  them  breasting  the 
tremendous  storm  of  shells  and  shot  that  now  deluged 
the  city,  they  held  that  proud  army  in  check  till  the 
arrival  of  the  Young  Guard. 

The  Old  Guard  entered  the  city  at  ten  in  the  morning, 
and  had  fought  all  day  w^ith  desperate  valor  to  arrest 
the  enemy,  which,  notwithstanding,  made  fearful 
progress.  Some  parts  of  the  city  were  already  inun- 
dated with  their  victorious  troops  ;  and  at  six  o'clock, 
their  cannon  played  within  musket-shot  of  the 
walls.  The  arrival  of  the  Young  Guard  at  that  liour 
drove  the  cloud  from  ISTapoleon's  brow,  and  filled 
every  heart  with  joy.  He  immediately  ordered  an 
attack.  The  gates  were  thrown  open,  and  the  Young 
Guard,  under  ISTey,  poured  forth  and  rushing  w^th 
loud  cheers  on  the  enemy,  drove  them  back  over  the 
field.  The  Old  Guard  through  another  gate  crushed 
everything  in  its  passage,  while  Murat's  splendid 
cavalry  completed  the  discomfiture,  and  sent  the 
astonished  enemy  back  to  the  heights  from  which 
they  had  just  descended  in  all  the  pride  of  victory, 
shouting,  "  to  Paris^  to  Paris^^  as  they  came.  The 
commanders  who  supposed  the  emperor  was  in  Silesia, 
gazed  with  amazement  at  the  Old  Guard,  and  said 
one  to  another,  "  l^apoleon  is  in  Dresden." 
The  next  morning  at  six  o'clock,  Napoleon  wae 


172  THE    OLD    GUARD. 

stand ing  by  a  huge  fire  built  in  tlie  squares  of  the 
Old  Guard  on  the  field  they  had  won,  while  a  cold 
and  drizzling  rain  and  mist  darkened  the  ghastly 
Bcene.  Behind,  the  cavalry  of  the  Guard  dismounted, 
Btood  beside  their  horses,  ready  at  a  moment's  warn- 
ing to  da-sh  to  any  part  of  the  field. 

!t>rapoleon  standing  on  that  ploughed  and  dead- 
covered  plain  in  the  grey  of  the  morning,  in  his  plain 
overcoat,  the  steam  arising  like  a  cloud  around  his 
head  as  he  dried  himself  beside  the  blazing  fire,  his 
hands  crossed  behind  him,  and  his  head  bowed  in  deep 
thought,  the  Old  Guard  around  him,  the  riders  beside 
their  steeds  ready  at  a  gesture  to  mount  and  charge — 
yet  all  quiet  as  a  domestic  scene — not  a  muscle  on 
that  marble  countenance  moving,  although  the  heavy 
roll  of  cannon  from  one  end  of  the  line  to  the  other, 
announced  that  the  work  of  death  had  commenced, 
presents  one  of  the  most  striking  and  sublime  specta- 
cles in  history. 

In  the  battle  that  followed,  Ney  had  command  of 
the  Young  Guard,  and  again  carried  it  in  headlong 
valor  on  the  enemy.  It  was  a  battery  of  the  Guard 
that  ^N'apoleon,  during  the  day,  ordered  to  fire  on  a 
group  which  he  took  to  be  officers  reconnoitring  his 
position,  and  at  the  firet  discharge  of  which,  Moreau 
fell. 

The  effects  of  thi^  great  victory,  however,  were 
lost  by  the  almost  simultaneous  disasters  that  befel 


AT   LEIPSIC.  173 

the  divisions  of  Macdonald  in  Silesia,  Oudinot  at 
Gros  Eeeren,  Marshal  Ney  at  Dennewitz,  and  above 
all,  of  Yandamine  at  Toeplitz.  Napoleon,  with  the 
Old  Guard,  could  not  be  everywhere,  and  while  with 
inferior  force  he  was  dealing  terrible  blows  on  por- 
tions of  the  allied  army,  his  lieutenants  lacking  his 
genius,  were  defeated  on  every  side.  At  this  time 
too,  Bavaria  went  over  to  the  ranks  of  the  allies. 
Napoleon,  however,  did  all  that  man  can  do.  With 
his  tireless  unconquerable  Guard,  he  turned  first  on 
one  side  and  then  on  the  other,  scattering  the  enemy 
fi'om  his  path.  But  no  sooner  did  he  withdraw  from 
the  pursuit  of  one  division  to  chastise  another,  than  the 
former  closed  fiercely  on  his  retiring  columns.  Thus 
in  almost  a  circle  of  armies,  he  continued  to  battle 
bravely  for  victory,  but  at  last  was  forced  to  retire 
to  Leipsic,  where,  having  concentrated  liis  troops,  he 
resolved  to  stake  all  on  one  great  battle. 

THE    OLD    GUARD    AT    LEIPSIC. 

This  was  a  hazardous  move,  for  the  allied  powers 
could  bring  into  the  field  nearly  three  hundred  thou- 
sand men,  and  thirteen  hundred  cannon,  while  he 
had  but  a  little  more  than  half  that  force  with  which 
to  meet  them.  The  preparations  for  the  battle  were 
on  the  grandest  scale,  and  when  the  two  armies 
finally  stood  in  array  against  each  other,  the  most 


174  THE   OLD   GUARD. 

casua.  observer  could  see  that  the  day  foreboded  t 
gloomy  termination  for  Napoleon. 
•  At  midnight  the  night  before,  rockets  sent  up  to  an 
amazing  lieight  from  the  liead-quarters  of  the  allied 
army,  and  answered  by  others  from  Blucher  on  the 
north,  told  that  all  was  ready ;  and  early  in  the 
morning  the  earthquake  commenced,  and  nearly  two 
thousand  cannon  exploded  on  ranks  of  living  men. 
Notwithstanding  his  inferiority  of  force.  Napoleon's 
Btar  seemed  still  in  the  ascendant,  and  his  victorious 
eagles  soared  as  of  old  over  the  smoke  and  tumult  of 
the  fight.  Near  the  close  of  the  day  he  deemed  the 
victory  secure,  and  ordered  up  the  Young  Guard, 
supported  by  the  Old,  to  make  his  favorite  attack  on 
the  centre,  and  finish  the  battle.  The  stern  Drouot, 
with  sixty  cannon,  moved  in  front,  clearing  a  space 
for  the  column  pressing  after,  and  their  advancing 
fire  soon  showed  that  the  allied  centre  was  shaken 
to  its  overthrow.  The  enemy  seeing  their  centre  in 
such  extreme  peril,  brought  up  reserve  after  reserve, 
and  battery  after  battery,  and  thousands  of  cavalry, 
and  closed  around  those  devoted  troops.  Yet  the 
batteries  of  Drouot  blazed  on  like  a  volcano.  The 
heavy  cuirassiers  plunged  boldly  after,  and  the 
advance  columns  approached  so  far  that  they  came 
near  taking  the  Emperor  Alexander  and  the  king  of 
Prussia  prisoners,  who  were  forced  to  mount  and 
retire.     But  this  invincible  corps,  after  performing 


n-S   EFFOKTS    AT   LEIPSIC.  175 

prodigies  of  valor,  was  at  length  compelled  to  halt, 
and  night  shut  in  the  scene. 

Napoleon  pitched  his  tent  in  the  bed  of  a  dried 
.fish-pond  in  the  centre  of  the  thinned  squares  of  the 
Old  Guard. 

The  next  day  the  battle  opened  gloomily  for  the 
French,  for  a  hundred  thousand  fresh  troops  had 
■joined  the  allies  during  the  night,  making  an  over- 
whelming prepouvlerance  of  force.  Still  l^ajoo- 
leon  showed  a  bold  front,  and  strove  with  almost 
superhuman  efforts  to  alter  the  decree  written  against 
him.  Early  in  the  day  the  bi  we  Poniatowsky,  after 
struggling  nobly  to  retain  his  position,  was  finally 
driven  back  by  superior  numbers.  ISTapoleon  imme-  ' 
diately  hastened  to  the  spot  with  two  divisions  of  the 
Guard,  and  with  one  terrible  blow  stopped  the  ad- 
vancing columns. 

Soon  after,  new^s  was  brought  that  Victor  and  Lau- 
riston,  though  fighting  like  lions,  were  on  the  point 
of  being  annihilated.  With  the  two  remaining  divi- 
sions of  the  Guard  he  hastened  to  their  relief.  The 
field  was  covered  with  fugitives,  and  the  scene  of 
confusion  that  met  his  eye  w^as  enough  to  fill  the 
boldest  heart  with  dismay.  But  amid  the  thunder  of 
artillery,  the  shouts  of  enraged  men,  and  disorder 
around  him,  his  brow  bore  a  calm  and  serene  aspect 
Taking  two  battalions  of  the  Guard,  he  cleared  a 
path    through  the  broken  masses  and   hurled  them 


176  THE   OLD    GUARD. 

with  such  awful  violence  on  the  advancing  enemy, 
that  they  were  broken  in  turn,  and  compelled  tc 
relinquish   the  ground   they  had   so  gallantly  won. 

The  superiority  of  the  allies  could  not  make  head 
against  the  obstinacy  of  Kapoleon,  for  wherever  the 
battle  shook,  there  he  plunged  with  his  Guard  and 
dealt  such  blows  as  it  only  could  deal.  But  at  thia 
critical  state  of  affairs  still  more  alarming  news  was 
brought  to  him.  His  Saxon  allies  to  the  number  of 
twelve  thousand,  with  forty  pieces  of  cannon,  suddenly 
went  over  to  the  enemy.  Thus  not  only  in  the  crisis 
of  the  battle  was  the  important  point  they  held 
deserted,  but  a  difference  of  twenty-four  thousand 
men  and  eighty  pieces  of  cannon,  made  to  the  French. 
Not  content  with  their  treason,  no  sooner  did  they 
reach  the  enemy's  lines  than  they  turned  their  bat- 
teries on  the  friends  by  whose  side  they  had  just 
stood. 

It  seemed  as  if  fate  having  no  compassion  for  his 
gallant  bearing,  was  determined  to  push  ]^apoleon 
to  the  verge  of  despair.  The  news  of  this  defection 
startled  him,  for  Schoenfield,  lying  close  to  the  suburbs 
of  Leipsic,  was  now  threatened,  and  thus  his  whole  line 
of  retreat  endangered.  He  instantly  took  a  division 
of  the  Young  Guard  and  Nansouty's  cuirassiers  and 
hastened  to  the  spot,  and  arrested  the  further  progress 
of  the  enemy — but  he  saw  a  retreat  was  inevitable. 

I  will  not  describe  this  horrible  retreat,  nor  the  appeau 


BATTLE   OF    HANAU.  177 

ance  of  a  field  on  which  a  hundred  and  twenty  thou- 
sand men  had  fallen.  The  Old  and  Young  Guard 
had  maintained  their  character  on  these  two  dreadful 
days,  and  its  dead  lay  on  every  part  of  that  field 
The  infantry  were  exposed  throughout  to  the  most 
tremendous  fire.  Its  artillery,  notwithstanding  its 
numerical  inferiority,  was  worked  with  terrible  power, 
while  the  cavalry  charged  as  only  the  cuirassiers  of 
the  Guard  could  charge — but  its  bravery  and  devotion 
only  swelled  the  carnage — the  defection  of  the  Bava- 
rians ruined  every  thing. 

BATTLE   OF   HANAF. 

Napoleon  was  now  compelled  to  commence  his  dis- 
astrous retreat  towards  the  Ehine.  Outstripping  his 
pursuers,  he  was  approaching  that  river  and  the  soil 
of  France,  when  he  received  the  astonishing  news 
that  General  Wrede,  his  old  ally,  with  fifty  thou- 
sand Bavarians,  had  crossed  his  line  of  march  and 
strongly  posted  at  Hanau,  was  determined  to  finish 
the  wreck  of  Leipsic.  The  French  army,  with  the 
exception  of  the  Guard,  Old  and  Young,  was  a  herd 
of  stragglers.  For  nearly  two  hundred  miles  they 
had  dragged  their  weary  limbs  towards  the  Rhine, 
harassed  at  every  step  by  the  Cossacks,  and  now, 
just  as  the  soil  of  France  was  to  welcome  them,  a  fresh 
and  powerful  army  unexpectedly  crossed  their  path. 

When  this  was  told  Napoleon,  he    simply  said, 


178  TIIK    OLD    GUARD. 

*' Advance;  since  these  Bavarian  gentlemen  pretend 
to  bar  our  passage,  we  must  pass  over  their  bellies." 
The  Bavarians  were  posted  in  front  of  Hanau,  stretch- 
ing across  the  road,  along  which  the  French  army 
was  marching.  Their  centre  was  supported  by  sev- 
enty pieces  of  cannon,  while  between  them  and  the 
approaching  fugitives,  stretched  a  forest  several  miles 
in  extent.  This  was  filled  with  sharp-shooters  to 
retard  the  French,  while  the  seventy  cannon  in  bat- 
tery were  to  receive  them  as  they  debouched  on  the 
farther  side.  Macdonald's  and  Victor's  corps  reduced 
to  five  thousand  men,  first  entered  the  forest  and 
cleared  it,  but  the  moment  they  attempted  to  form 
in  the  open  field  beyond,  they  were  rent  into  frag- 
ments by  the  balls  of  those  seventy  guns,  all 
trained  on  that  devoted  spot.  Keinforcements  kept 
arriving,  but  every  effort  was  powerless  to  cross  the 
plain  in  front  of  the  forest.  It  was  a  wild  hailstorm 
of  balls  in  point-blank  range,  and  the  soldiers  melted 
away  before  it  like  men  of  snow.  It  was  then  that 
Napoleon  galloping  up  to  his  Guard  ordered  two  bat- 
talions of  foot  chasseurs  to  clear  the  field,  while  at 
the  same  time  he  directed  Drouot  to  advance  with 
the  artillery  of  the  Guard.  "  Remember,"  said  he, 
"  that  on  this  very  spot  the  French  Guards  under 
Louis  XIY.,  were  defeated  and  thrown  into  the  river. 
Let  the  enemy  to-day  receive  the  same  fate,  and 
France  be  avenged." 


deouot's  guns.  17G  ^ 

For  four  hours  Victor  and  Macdonald  liad  vainly 
endeavored  to  bear  up  against  the  tremendous  force 
that  opposed  them,  and  now  the  weary  troops  shouted 
for  joy  when  they  saw  the  bear  skin  caps  of  the  old 
grenadiers  enter  the  forest.     Those  black  caps  swept 
on  like  a  wave  through  the  green  foliage — a  line  of 
flame  marking  their  passage.     As  in  the  retreat  from 
Moscow,  no  calamity  however  great,  not  even  the 
pangs  of  famine,  could  shake  their  constancy — so  now, 
after  a  weary  flight  of  two  hundred  miles,  they  were 
the  same  as  in  the  flush  of  victory.     The  oaks  rent 
around  them  before  the  cannon  balls  that  crashed  on 
every  side — the  huge  limbs  falling  on  their   ranks, 
striking  down  many  a  brave  man — but  they  pressed 
sternly  on,  cleared   the  wood,  and  soon  won  a  part 
of  the  plain  Yictor  and  Macdonald  had  struggled  for 
so  many  hours  to  obtain.     In  the  open  space  they 
had  thus  snatched  from  the  enemy,  Drouot  swiftly 
advanced  with  his  trusty  guns.     At  first  with  fifteen 
he  opened  his  fire,  then  with  fifteen  more,  then  twenty, 
and  so  on  till  fifty  played  with  all  the  rapidity  and 
fearful  accuracy  which  made  the  artillery  of  the  Guard 
BO  formidable.     He  was  in  point-blank  range,  and  the 
seventy  pieces  of  the  enemy  gave  them  a  superiority 
he  must  make  up  by  rapidity  of  firing.     It  was  terrific 
to  see    those  hundred    and    twenty  cannon  concen- 
trated   on    so    narrow  a  space,  and    in    such  close 
range,  exploding  on  each  other.    The  guns  of  the 


180  THR   OLD   GUARD. 

Guard  seemed  to  move  in  fire,  so  rapidly  were  the;;? 
discharged,  while  the  accuracy  of  aim  soon  told  with 
fearful  effect  on  the  enemy. 

In  the  midst  of  the  volleys  a  large  body  of  Bavarian 
cavalry  suddenly  precipitated  themselves  on  the  bat- 
teries of  Drouot.  The  cannoneers  seized  their  car- 
bines— and  now  with  the  bayonet,  and  now  with  their 
pieces  clubbed,  stretched  them  around  their  guns. 
At  this  moment  the  cavalry  of  the  Guard  were  seen 
debouching  in  dark  and  imposing  masses  from  the 
forest.  Wrede  saw  the  gathering  tempest  that  was 
about  to  burst  upon  him,  and  rallying  his  cavalry, 
and  throwing  his  infantry  into  squares  behind  the 
Russian  dragoons,  awaited  the  shock.  The  bugles 
sounded  the  charge  and  breaking  into  a  trot,  then  into 
a  gallop,  those  thundering  squadrons  fell  on  infantry, 
cavalry,  and  artillery  with  such  resistless  violence 
that  the  w^iole  left  wing  of  the  army  was  swept  from 
the  plain.  Wrede  then  threw  forward  his  right  and 
made  a  desperate  effort  to  regain  the  ground  he  had 
lost.  The  troops  advanced  gallantly,  and  the  artillery 
approached  so  near  that  the  opposing  gunners  could 
hear  each  other's  voices.  The  scene  then  became 
indescribably  feaiful.  It  was  one  stream  of  light- 
ning and  peal  of  thunder  through  all  the  green  alleys 
of  the  forest.  The  huge  tops  of  the  oaks  swung  to 
and  fro  and  roared  in  the  blast  made  by  the  balls  as 
though   a  storm  was  sweeping  over  them.     Giant 


WINS    THE    BATTLE.  181 

branches  were  hurled  through  the  air,  and  all  amid 
the  leafy  recesses  were  seen  charging  columns  and 
exjiloding  batteries,  and  crowds  of  carriages  and 
wagons,  and  a  multitude  of  fugitives.  In  the  centre 
of  this  forest  was  ISTapoleon  walking  to  and  fro  in  the 
road,  listening  with  the  deepest  anxietj^  to  the  uproar 
around  him,  and  conversing  at  intervals  with  Caulin- 
court.  Defeat  here  he  knew  would  be  irretrievable 
ruin,  for  he  would  be  driven  back  upon  his  pursu- 
ers, and  crushed  between  two  armies.  "While  such 
painful  thoughts  were  crowding  his  bosom  a  bomb 
fell  in  the  ditch  beside  him,  the  fuse  still  burn- 
ing. He  paid  no  attention  to  it,  and  Caulincourt 
placing  himself  between  it  and  the  emperor,  they 
continued  their  conversation  as  before.  The  officei*s 
of  his  staff  looked  on  in  amazement  and  held  their 
breath  in  terror,  but  the  shell  had  sunk  so  deep  in 
the  mire  that  it  was  extinguished  before  it  had  time 
to  burst. 

The  firing  in  the  forest  becoming  still  heavier. 
Napoleon  ordered  two  battalions  of  the  Old  Guard  to 
advance,  which  charging  almost  on  a  run,  overthrew 
everything  in  their  passage,  and  forced  the  enemy 
into  a  precipitate  retreat.  This  brave  corps  never 
behaved  with  greater  intrepidity.  A  Captain  Godau, 
at  the  head  of  only  two  companies,  charged  and  over- 
threw several  battalions    of  the   Bavarians.      Twc 


182  THE    OLD   GUARD. 

chasseui-s  threw  themselves  in  the  tumult  on  the 
ranks  of  the  enemy,  and  bore  away  each  a  standard. 
General  Canibronne  spurred  all  alone  like  Murat  into 
the  midst  of  the  fray.  Three  soldiers  seeing  him 
dash  forward,  rushed  after  him — one  of  them  snatch- 
ing the  banner  of  a  guide  from  the  very  heart  of  a 
Bavarian  battalion.  The  gunners  fought  with  unpa- 
ralleled heroism,  and  this  "  Colunm  of  granite"  again 
showed  itself  woi-thy  of  the  name  it  bore.  It  alone 
opened  the  road  to  the  army,  and  saved  it  from  utter 
annihilation. 

That  night,  by  the  side  of  a  blazing  fire,  in  the 
heart  of  the  forest,  !N"apoleon  bivouacked  in  the  midst 
of  his  exhausted  squares.  He  said  afterwards  that 
at  Hanau  he  had  not  merely  won  a  victory,  but  had 
carried  a  breach. 

In  this  battle  Wrede  lost  a  fifth  of  his  army,  and 
Europe  learned  for  the  hundredth  time  the  danger 
of  attempting  to  stop  the  advance  of  the  adamantine 
columns  of  the  Old  Guard. 

With  saddened  hearts  they  defiled  over  the  Rhine, 
and  bid  a  final  adieu  to  the  scene  of  their  achieve- 
ments. Behind  them  lay  Jena,  Austerlitz,  Wagram, 
Eylau,  and  a  host  of  fields  where  their  iron  ranks  had 
borne  down  everything  that  opposed  them  and  theii 
eagles  soared  in  triumph — never  to  be  revisited.  On 
the  soil  of  beloved  France — by  their  own  hearthstones 


KETUKNS    TO    PARIS  183 

they  were   now   to  show  to   the  world  examples  of 
heroism  imeqiialled  in  the  annals  of  war. 

I^apoleon  returned  to  Paris  with  a  part  of  the 
Guard,  to  prepare  for  the  inundation  of  his  empire  by 
nearly  a  million  of  men. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

1814. 

CAMPAIGN   OF   THE    GUARD. 

Napoleon  with  Europe  against  liim— Care  of  his  Guard— The  Guard  at  Rothiere— 
Captain  Hauillet — Terrible  cross  inarch  to  attack  Blucher— Victory  of  Champs 
TAubert— The  Old  Guard  at  Montinirail— Its  victory— Its  protracted  uiarcheg 
and  battles — Overthrow  of  Blucher — Return  of  the  Guard  to  tlie  help  of  Victor 
and  Oudinot — Its  last  battles  and  inarches— Desertion  of  Napoleon  by  his  frienas 
at  his  abdication— Faithfulness  of  the  Guard— The  parting  scene  at  Fontainbieau 
— ^The  Guard  by  the  side  of  its  foes — Its  bearing  and  aspect 

At  the  close  of  the  year  1813,  Napoleon  presented  n 
sad  3^et  sublime  spectacle.  His  first  words  on  enter- 
ing the  senate,  after  his  return  from  the  disasters  of 
Leipsic,  were,  "  A  year  ago  all  Europe  marched  with 
us — to-day  all  Europe  marches  against  us."  From 
the  vast  height  of  power  to  which  he  had  reached,  he 
had  descended  step  by  step,  battling  bravely  as  he 
went.  Deserted  by  his  allies,  betrayed  by  the  men 
he  had  covered  with  honor,  his  dominions  wrested 
one  by  one  from  his  grasp,  his  brothers  dethroned, 
and  his  own  brother-in-law  openly  proclaiming  liit- 


EUROPE    AGAINST    NAPOLEON.  185 

treason,  some  of  the  heaviest  blows  he  received  com- 
ino;  from  the  hands  of  those  whose  fortunes  he  had 
made,  his  army  in  fragments,  his  treasury  exhausted, 
while  the  bayonets  of  nearly  a  million  of  men  were 
pointing  towards  Paris,  he  yet  showed  no  discourage- 
ment, uttered  no  complaints,  but  calm  and  resolute 
stood  and  surveyed  the  vast  and  dismaying  prospect 
as  he  was  wont  to  do  a  doubtful  battle-field.  He  was 
grander  in  his  great  misfortunes  than  when  with 
Europe  pressing  after  his  standard,  he  two  years 
before  crossed  the  Niemen  in  all  the  pomp  and  pride 
of  a  conqueror. 

To  replenish  the  treasury,  to  create  an  army,  to  awe 
the  turbulent,  and  then  stand  up  single-handed  against 
Europe  in  arms — these  were  the  tasks  before  him. 
He  set  the  first  example  of  self-sacrifice,  by  giving 
into  the  public  treasury  six  inilUons  of  dollars  taken 
from  his  private  vaults  in  the  Tuileries. 

A  decree  ordering  a  levy  of  300,000  soldiers  wa^ 
made,  and  another  augmenting  the  Guard  to  112,500 
men.  During  January  of  this  year  he  issued  no  less 
than  five  decrees  concerning  his  Guard,  He  seemed 
to  be  more  solicitous  about  it  than  ever  before.  In 
the  disasters  of  the  last  two  years  he  had  felt  its  value 
more  than  in  the  full  tide  of  victory.  He  had  fallen 
back  on  it  again  and  again  in  the  hour  of  utmost 
peril,  and  always  found  it  a  "  column  of  granite." 
Though  its  charge  on  the  enemy's  centre  at  Leipsic 


186  THE    OLD    GUARD. 

was  not  successful  as  at  Wagram  and  otlier  fielda 
of  its  fame,  yet  it  never  made  a  nobler  charge  or 
showed  more  dauntless  bravery.  Treason  and  over- 
whelming nmnbers  wrested  the  victory  from  its 
eagles. 

The  levy,  however,  was  not  successful.  France 
was  exhausted  not  only  of  her  men,  but  even  of  her 
youth,  and  boys  were  now  in  his  greatest  need  tc 
form  his  battalions.  To  add  to  his  trouble,  as  for- 
tune always  seems  to  delight  in  pushing  down  a  fall- 
ing favorite,  the  Typhus  fever  broke  out  among  his 
troops  along  the  Rhine.  They  had  caught  it  in  the 
plains  of  Germany,  and  these  veterans  who  had 
fallen  back  from  the  different  fortresses  and  cities 
which  they  held  were  swept  off  by  thousands. 

Thus  he  was  deprived  of  a  large  number  of  the  few 
experienced  soldiers  the  disasters  of  the -last  year  had 
left  him.  Notwithstanding  all  this  and  the  appalling 
aspect  of  a  million  of  men  rising  up  and  swearing  to 
complete  his  overthrow — seven  hundred  thousand  of 
them  sweeping  steadily  down  upon  the  soil  of  France, 
their  bayonets  pointing  towards  his  capital — h'e  stood 
nobly  at  bay.  Having  entrusted  his  wife  and  son  to 
the  National  Guard  in  a  speech  full  of  feeling,  he  bade 
them  adieu,  little  dreaming  it  was  to  be  a  final  one, 
and  set  out  for  head-quarters  at  Chalons. 

It  was  in  the  latter  part  of  January  that  ho  reached 
the  shattered  and  discouraged  army,  falling  back  od 


ITS    GEEAT    CAMPAIGN.  187 

every  side  before  the  enemy.  Rallying  it  by  bis 
presence,  he  immediately  took  the  offensive  and  sur- 
prised Blucher  with  thirty  thousand  men  near  Brienne 
The  latter,  however,  made  a  stubborn  resistance,  and 
the  advance  guard  of  the  French  was  forced  to  retire, 
when  eight  thousand  of  the  Old  Guard  arrived  and 
cleared  the  field.  Blucher,  however,  rallied  his  troops 
behind  his  formidable  artillery,  and  prepared  to  give 
battle  on  the  following  morning.  Mortier  who  had 
made  this  bold  irruption,  fell  back  to  wait  the  arrival 
of  the  main  body,  toiling  up  through  mud  and  snow 
into  which  the  artillery  sank  at  every  step,  made 
but  slow  progress.  A  Captain  Hauillet,  wnth  a  sin- 
gle company  of  the  foot  chasseurs  of  the  Old  Guard, 
was  appointed  to  cover  this  retrograde  movement. 
But  soon  after  he  had  taken  his  position,  an  over- 
whelming force  of  Austrians  suddenly  came  upon 
him.  There  seemed  no  escape  to  this  devoted  little 
band — but  they  were  a  part  of  the  Old  Guard,  and 
if  they  fell,  it  would  be  like  the  Spartan  band  in 
Thermopylae.  Their  heroic  officer  immediately  con- 
centrated his  few  soldiers  and  callino^  too^ether  the 
drummers  he  ordered  the  chasseurs  not  to  fire,  but 
to  advance  with  the  bayonet.  The  charge  was  then 
beaten  and  at  the  head  of  only  a  hundred  and  fifty 
men,  he  flung  himself  with  such  desperate  energy 
on  the  nve   thousand  Austrians   advancing;  against 


188  THE    01  D    GUARD. 

him,  that  he  broke  their  ranks  in  pieces,  and  \nn  them 
to  flight. 

The  battle  of  Brienne  followed,  and  although  the 
columns  of  the  Old  and  Young  Guard  pressed  for- 
ward amid  the  driving  snow  against  the  batteries, 
and  stood  firm  under  repeated  charges  of  cavalry  and 
infaiitr}^,  yet  they  could  not  wring  victory  from  the 
enemy.  The  constantly  increasing  forces  of  the  allies 
rendered  their  numerical  superiority  so  great  that 
jN^apoleon  at  night  ordered  a  retreat.  lie  fell  back 
to  Troyes,  and  three  days  after  to  IS^ogent. 

In  the  meantime  the  allied  army  divided.  The 
Austrians  following  up  !N"apoleon,  were  to  march  on 
Paris  by  way  of  Montereau  down  the  valley  of  the 
Seine,  while  Blucher  with  the  army  of  Silesia  was  to 
move  upon  Chalons,  and  descend  by  the  Marne  to 
the  capital.  The  latter,  full  of  energy  and  decision, 
was  the  antagonist  first  to  be  disposed  of — for  sweep 
ing  over  the  country  without  opposition,  driving  the 
affrighted  peasants  in  crowds  before  him,  he  marched 
so  rapidly  towards  Paris  that  the  inhabitants  were 
filled  with  terror. 

Crippled  for  want  of  soldiers,  lN"apoleon  was  una- 
ble to  resist  both  of  these  formidable  arrays  at  once, 
and  resolved  therefore  to  leave  Yictor  and  Oudinot 
with  a  small  portion  of  the  troops  to  check,  as  long 
as  possible,  the  slow  and  methodical  advance  of  the 
A-Ustrians,   and   with   the   elite   of  the   army,  dash 


A    WINTER   MAKCH.  .189 

across  the  country  and  inflict  a  sudden  and  terrible 
blow  on  Blucher.  The  latter  knew  that  IsTapoleon 
was  on  his  left,  but  this  gave  him  no  disquietude,  for 
the  head-quarters  of  the  emperor  were  thirty  mi]*^^ 
distant,  and  the  cross-roads  were  nothing  but  beds  of 
mortar  through  which  it  would  be  impossible  for  him 
to  drag  his  artillery.  Besides,  he  had  on  his  hands 
the  allied  army  vastly  superior  to  his  own  even  undi- 
vided, and  he  would  not  dare  leave  it  an  open  road 
to  Paris,  But  a  desperate  condition  requires  despe- 
rate measures,  and  the  advantage  to  Napoleon  of  the 
foolish  dislocation  of  the  invading  army  was  too 
great  to  be  neglected.  So  on  the  9th  of  February  he 
started  from  Nogent,  and  at  night  was  half  way  to 
Blucher.  But  such  was  the  state  of  the  roads,  that 
it  required  the  most  extraordinary  exertions  to  com- 
plete those  fifteen  miles.  The  artillery  carriages 
rolled  along  up  to  their  axles  in  mud,  the  cavalry 
floundered  on,  while  the  foot  soldiers  could  scarcely 
force  their  way.  Next  morning,  after  entering  the 
forest  of  Traconne  the  roads  became  still  worse,  the 
cannon  stuck  fast  in  the  clay,  and  the  drivers  declar- 
ing it  was  impossible  to  extricate  them,  Marmont, 
who  commanded  the  advance,  wheeled  about.  When 
ti.e  state  of  things  was  reported  to  Napoleon,  he  said, 
"  The  passage  must  be  made  even  though  the  cannon 
are  left  behind."  He  would  have  been  compelled  to 
xxidke  this  sacrifice  of  his  guns,  if  the  mayor  of  Bar- 


190  THE   OLD   GUARD. 

bonne  liad  not  at  liis  command  furnisiied  five  hundred 
horses,  by  ^vliich  they  were  at  length  pulled  out. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  10th,  the  troops  were 
all  reunited,  with  the  exception  of  a  division  of 
mounted  grenadiers  of  the  Guard  which  could  not  get 
tlirough,  the  army  in  advance  had  so  cut  up  and  en- 
cumbered the  road. 

In  the  meantime  Marmont  heading  still  the  ad- 
vance, ascended  at  nine  o'clock  the  heights  that  over- 
look the  valley  of  Petit  Morin,  and  saw  with  delight 
a  corps  of  5000  Prussians  below  him ;  the  soldiers 
unconscious  of  danger,  quietly  preparing  their  break- 
fast. 'No  sooner  did  the  Emperor's  eye  take  in  the 
welcome  spectacle,  than  he  ordered  a  general  attack, 
and  a  butchery  and  rout  followed.  The  Prussian 
General  with  nearly  the  whole  corps  was  taken.  By 
this  grand  stroke  he  had  cut  the  allied  army  in  two, 
and  could  turn  on  whichever  he  liked. 

The  next  morning  at  five  o'clock,  E^apoleon  was  on 
horseback,  hurrying  on  his  weary  troops  to  Montmirai) 
to  intercept  Sacken,  another  of  Blucher's  generals, 
who,  astounded  at  this  sudden  apparition  of  the 
French  Emperor  on  his  flanks,  was  making  all  haste 
to  join  his  commander.  But  the  Old  Guard  proved 
too  quick  for  him,  the  infantry  had  left  the  field  of 
battle  where  they  had  bivouacked  an  hour  before 
daylight,  and  preceded  by  the  mounted  chasseurs, 
reached  Montmirail,  as  Sacken  was  approacliing  it 


THE    YlKhl)    OF    BATTLPJ.  19l 

The  latter,  to  whom  this  town,  lying  as  it  did  directly 
in  his  path,  was  of  vital  importance,  immediately 
commenced  an  attack.  Being  superior  in  numbers, 
ne  was  able  to  maintain  the  fight  for  five  hours  witli- 
out  losing  ground.  At  length,  as  night  approached, 
sixteen  battalions  of  the  Old  Guard  arrived,  under 
Friant.  ^  These  were  immediately  formed  into  a  sin- 
gle column,  each  battalion  a  hundred  steps  from  the 
other,  and  ordered  to  advance  full  on  the  enemy's 
centre.  At  the  same  time  ^lortier  arrived  with  six- 
teen other  battalions  of  the  Young  Guard,  six  of 
which  took  their  station  on  the  right  of  Friant,  to 
sustain  the  attack  of  the  Old  Guard.  Sacken  had 
forty  cannon  placed  so  as  to  command  the  approaches 
to  his  central  position,  while  a  triple  row  of  tirail- 
leurs sustained  by  battalions  of  infantry,  lined  the 
hedges  on  either  side.  On  these  murderous  batteries 
and  over  these  formidable  obstacles  the  Old  Guard 
led  by  'Ney,  advanced.  Napoleon  himself  gave  the 
signal  of  attack,  and  those  resolute  veterans  charged 
on,  a  run  over  the  farm  of  Haute  Epine.  The  com- 
bat was  friojhtful — -Sacken  was  fio-htino^  for  life — Na- 
poleon  for  his  empire.  The  Prussians  were  deter- 
mined to  be  cut  down  to  a  man  rather  than  yield,  and 
the  Old  Guard  for  once  seemed  to  have  charged  a 
rock — but  at  this  moment  Napoleon  ordered  the 
lancers,  dragoons,  and  mounted  grenadiers,  to  gain 
the  rear  and  fall  suddenly  on  the  shattered  masses 


192  THE   OLD   GUARD. 

of  the  enemy.  As  they  defiled  past  him  he  said^ 
"  Brave  young  men,  there  is  the  enemy,  will  you  allow 
him  to  march  to  Paris  ?"  Shaking  their  sabres  abovo 
their  heads,  they  exclaimed,  "  We  will  not,"  and 
rending  the  air  with  shouts,  broke  into  a  gallop,  and 
falling  with  irresistible  power  on  the  hitherto  steady 
ranks,  trampled  them  under  their  horses'  hoofs.  The 
rout  was  complete,  and  but  the  mere  debris  of  the 
army  escaped  by  a  disorderly  flight  through  the  fields 

Night  had  now  arrived,  and  Napoleon  commanded 
the  rally  to  be  sounded  in  order  to  rest  his  exhausted 
troops  for  the  next  day's  efforts.  He  slept  in  a  farm- 
house on  some  straw  from  which  the  enemy's  wounded 
had  just  been  removed,  while  four  thousand  men  lay 
dead  or  dying  around  him.  The  next  morning  the 
reveille  beat  before  daybreak,  and  Napoleon  at  the 
head  of  his  tireless  Guard  started  in  pursuit.  Eight 
Prussian  battalions  w^hich  did  not  arrive  till  too  late 
to  take  part  in  the  battle,  covered  Sacken's  retreat. 
As  the  French  approached,  these  battalions  advanced 
to  meet  them,  but  a  battalion  of  the  Old  Guard  drove 
in  the  tirailleurs,  while  six  other  battalions  fell  on 
them  in  front.  At  the  same  time  the  dragoons  of 
the  Guard  came  thundering  on,  breaking  through  the 
first  and  second  lines,  and  putting  all  to  flight. 

The  enemy  lost  two  thousand  more  during  the  re' 
treat  of  this  day. 

In  the  meantime,  Blucher,  who  was  at  Yirtus,  had 


DEFEAT    OF   BLUCHEK.  19.^ 

been  informed  of  the  sudden  apparition  of  Kapoleon 
among  his  divided  corps  by  the  disasters  at  Champ 
Aubert;  and  while  the  fugitives  from  that  fatal  field 
were  pouring  into  the  streets  of  the  town  where  he 
lay,  he  heard  the  heavy  cannonading  at  Montmirail 
and  knew  the  danger  in  which  Sacken  was  placed. 
Still  he  could  not  march  to  his  relief,  for  he  had  but 
few  troops  with  him,  and  Marmont  was  watching  his 
movements.  Besides  he  was  waiting  for  the  arrival 
of  two  corps,  which  were  hastening  to  join  him.  At 
length  being  reinforced,  he  set  out  for  Montmirail, 
driving  Marmont  before  him. 

Napoleon,  as  we  have  seen,  had  started  on  the  9th 
across  the  country,  making  thirty  miles  of  hoi-rible 
road  by  the  morning  of  the  10th — having  marched  all 
night — the  same  day  he  gained  the  battle  of  Champ 
Aubert,  the  next,  the  11th,  he  fought  and  won  that 
of  Montmirail,  the  12th  he  kept  up  the  pursuit,  fight- 
ing as.  he  went,  and  yet  on  the  night  of  the  13th, 
hearing  that  Blucher  had  advanced  to  Etoges,  he  set 
out  w^ith  his  Guard  and  a  portion  of  his  other  forces, 
and  next  morning  was  marching  full  on  that  place. 
Marmont  had  just  evacuated  the  little  village  of 
Vaux  Champ,  fighting  bravely  as  he  retired,  and  was 
retreating  along  the  road  to  Montmirail,  when  the 
bear-skin  caps  and  eagles  of  the  Old  G-uard  suddenly 
appeared.  The  effect  was  electric.  The  retreating 
troops  halted,  and  rending  the  air  with  the  most  fran 
9 


194  Tire   OLD    GUA^D. 

tic  hurrahs,  demanded  to  be  led  against  tlie  enemy 
The  Emperor  was  in  their  midst,  and  amid  the  long 
and  deafening  shouts  of  "  Vive  VEmpereur^'''  the 
cavah'j  went  hurrying  forward,  while  the  skirmishers 
gave  way  to  the  heads  of  massive  columns  of  in 
fantry  that  went  rolling  on  the  foe.  Marmont's 
squadron  of  escort  charged  alone  on  tlie  Prus- 
sians. Four  squadrons  of  service  of  JS'apoleon  fol- 
lowed them.  Soon  the  whole  French  line  was  in 
movement,  and  Blucher  was  compelled  to  retreat. 
The  road  along  which  he  passed  was  lined  with  lofty 
elms — in  this  he  placed  his  artillery,  which  fired  as  it 
j'etired,  while  the  infantry  in  solid  squares  moved 
through  the  fields  on  either  side.  On  these  the  cavalry 
of  the  Guard  charged  incessantly,  mowing  them  down 
with  terrible  slaughter.  Especially  when  tlie  enemy 
had  passed  Janvilliers  and  debouched  into  the  vast 
open  country  beyond,  the  carnage  became  frightful. 
Drouotwith  his  artillery,  strewed  the  plain  wjth  the 
dead,  while  the  cavalry  thundered  on  the  shaking 
masses  in  repeated  shocks,  carrying  away  whole  regi- 
ments at  a  time.  But  for  the  miry  soil  in  which  the 
horse  artillery  got  fastened.  Grouchy  would  have 
taken  Blucher  with  his  whole  army.  As  it  was,  out 
of  20,000  men,  he  saved  less  than  two  thirds.  The 
cavaby  of  the  Guard  was  in  constant  action  during 
this  combat,  and  with  Grouchy  and  his  squadrons, 
covered  itself  ^ith  glory. 


ITS    OinOAT    ICFFORTS.  195 

That  niglit  ^^apcleon,  with  the  Old  Guard,  slept 
at  Montmirail. 

But  tho'igh  the  Guard  had  now  travelled  and 
fought  six  days  without  intermission,  I^apoleon 
started  with  it  in  the  morning  to  the  help  of  Yictor 
and  Oudinot,  whom  the  allies,  after  his  departure, 
had  assailed  and  driven  back  almost  to  the  gates  of 
Paris. 

It  is  painful  to  witness  his  gigantic  efforts  at  this 
period,  and  remember  they  did  not  prove  success- 
ful. After  having  by  unheard  of  exertion  carried 
his  army  and  artillery  across  a  country  considered 
impassable,  and  fought  and  beaten  a  superior  enemy 
five  days  in  succession,  he  was  overrun  by  couriers 
announcing  to  him  that  N^ogent  had  been  taken  by 
assault,  Moret,  Nemours,  and  Montargis  had  fallen, 
that  the  advanced  posts  of  the  enemy  were  at  the 
gat^s  of  Orleans,  and  the  Cossacks  were  swarming 
through  the  forest  and  palace  of  Fontainbleau-  —that 
Auxerre  had  been  captured  and  the  garrison  put 
to  the  sword,  and  the  light  troops  of  the  enemy 
were  covering  the  whole  plain  between  the  Seine  and 
Loire,  and  that  the  reserve  artillery  and  heavy  bag- 
gage of  the  army  had  nearly  reached  the  tages  of 
Paris  in  its  flight,  filling  the  inhabitants  with  con- 
Bternation.  Such  were  the  tidings  that  from  hour  to 
hour  reached  his  ears,  as  he  and  his  devoted  Guard 
were  pressing  so  fiercely  the  army  of  Blucher.     "Nq 


1^6  THE   OLD   GUARD. 

wonder  lie  could  not  rest.  With  one  inferior  arrn/;, 
he  must  fight  two,  thirty  or  forty  miles  apart.  No- 
thing but  winged  troops  could  do  this  long.  Still  hiu 
courage  and  will  remained  unshaken.  Leaving  Mar* 
mont,  Mortier,  and  Grouchy,  to  watch  Blucher,  as  he 
had  left  Yictor  and  Oudinot  to  resist  the  advance  of 
the  allies,  he  took  with  him  only  his  tireless  Guard  and 
the  cuirasseurs,  and  started  to  the  help  of  his  hard 
pressed  lieutenants.  The  roads  were  so  bad  that  he 
could  not  go  directly  across  the  country,  and  he  there- 
fore turned  aside  and  plunged  into  the  forest  of  Brie, 
which  he  found  filled  with  fugitives,  fleeing  before 
the  enemy.  The  infantry  went  by  post  while  the 
cavalry  marched  day  and  night  for  thirty-six  Tiours. 
No  troops  but  the  unconquerable  Guard  could  have 
undergone  the  exertions  and  labor  they  had  endured 
for  six  days,  and  then  made  this  cross  march  of 
thirty-six  hours  over  almost  impassable  roads,  for  the 
sole  purpose  of  attacking  a  fresh  and  superior  enemy. 

Such  deeds  as  these  elevate  it  above  the  common 
standard  of  mortals,  and  fill  the  mind  with  wonder 
and  admiration. 

It  was  high  time  for  Bonaparte  to  arrive.  He  had 
sent  a  despatch  to  Yictor  and  Oudinot  announcing 
that  he  would  come  by  the  cross-road  to  Chalons,  and 
they  were  straining  every  nerve  to  preserve  it  open, 
for  if  once  closed  by  the  enemy,  it  would  be  out 
of  the  power  of  Napoleon  to  efiect  a  junction  witb 


FATIGUING    MARCH.  '  197 

til  em.  As  the  post  wagons  and  other  vehicles,  con- 
taining the  Old  Guard,  came  on  a  furious  gallop 
along  this  road,  preceded  by  the  cavalry,  the  plain  in 
front  of  them  was  seen  to  be  covered  with  clouds  of 
smoke,  amid  which  were  heard  incessant  explosions 
of  artillery.  Oudinot  and  Yictor  were  struggling 
nobly  to  preserve  the  road  open,  but  pressed  as  they 
were  by  superior  numbers,  another  hour  would  have 
found  it  closed  and  Napoleon  been  too  late. 

Ahead  of  all  his  troops,  he  dashed  forward  with 
his  escort  to  where  the  firing  was  heaviest,  and  lo,  he 
saw  before  him  the  whole  French  army  in  full  re- 
treat. Suddenly  the  standards  of  the  cuirasseurs 
announcing  that  the  Emperor  had  come,  were  seen, 
and  then  a  shout  went  up  like  the  cry  of  deMrious 
joy.  As  these  tired  veterans  swept  onward,  bearing 
their  stern  chieftain  in  their  midst,  "  Vive  VEm^pe- 
reur^^  rolled  from  rank  to  rank,  till  it  died  away  amid 
the  explosions  of  cannon  on  the  distant  plain.  The 
retreat  was  at  once  stopped  along  the  whole  line, 
columns  of  attack  were  formed,  and  the  advancing 
enemy  checked  at  all  points. 

Napoleon,  satisfied  with  having  effected  this,  ordered 
a  halt,  that  his  over-worked  troops  might  get  a  little 
rest.  The  poor  fellows  who,  exhausted  as  they  were, 
would  have  charged  the  enemy's  batteries  without  a 
nmrmur,  glad  of  a  little  respite,  sunk  to  sleep  on  the 
ground  where  they  stood. 


198  THE   OLD   GUARD. 

The  next  day  Napoleon  drove  the  allies  from  tlie.i 
position  with  great  slaughter,  and  though  the  01  ;j 
Guard  carried  its  eagles  triumphantly  as  ever,  it  was 
too  exhausted  to  make  a  vigorous  pursuit,  by  which 
the  Bavarians  were  saved  from  utter  ruin. 

Two  days  after,  February  18th,  the  battle  of  Mon- 
tereau  was  fought.  From  early  in  the  morning  till 
late  in  the  afternoon,  Victor,  and  afterward  Gerard, 
strove  gallantly  to  carry  the  heights  of  Surville ;  the 
latter  again  and  again  leading  his  men  up  to  the  very 
mouths  of  forty  pieces  of  artillery.  But  the  sacrifice 
and  valor  were  alike  in  vain.  At  length  as  evening 
approached,  Napoleon  came  up  on  a  gallop  with  the 
artillery  and  cavalry  of  the  Old  Guard.  Supported 
by  its  guns,  the  Guard  with  loud  shouts  and  resolute 
step,  pressed  forward,  and  storming  over  those  flam- 
ing heights,  swept  them  as  with  a  single  blow,  of 
artillery,  infantry,  and  cavalry,  which  rolled  together 
down  in  wild  confusion  upon  the  bridge.  Sixty 
pieces  of  artillery  of  the  Old  Guard  were  then 
placed  where  the  enemy's  batteries  had  been  all  day 
long  vomiting  fire  on  the  French  columns  of  attack, 
and  concentrated  their  close  and  deadly  volleys  upon 
the  masses  crowding  frantically  over  the  bridge.  In 
his  eagerness.  Napoleon  took  charge  of  a  cannon, 
pointing  it  himself.  The  cannoneers  of  the  Old 
Guard,  covered  with  powder  and  smoke,  gazed  with 
wonder  on  thei^  Emperor  discharging  the  duties  of  ? 


AIXIKS    KETRKAT, 


19* 


common  gimner,  and  as  the  shot  of  the  enemy  whis- 
tled around  them,  they  besought  him  to  retire  from 
the  danger.  They  cared  not  for  themselves,  they 
were  accustomed  to  the  crash  of  cannon  balls,  but 
they  were  filled  with  alarm  to  see  the  messengers  of 
death  filling  the  air  around  their  beloved  Emperor. 
But  he  replied  gaily,  as  the  light  of  early  days 
flashed  over  his  stern  features,  "  Courage,  my  friends, 
the  bullet  which  is  to  kill  me  is  not  yet  cast." 

The  allied  army,  shattered  and  bleeding,  fled  over 
the  Seine,  and  joy  and  hope  filled  the  bosom  of  IS'a- 
poleon. 

But  while  these  extraordinary  successes  were  dis- 
pelling the  gloom  that  overhung  the  prospects  of  the 
Emperor,  a  new  cloud  was  gathering  on  another  por- 
tion of  the  French  frontier.  Bernadotte,  whose  for- 
tunes Napoleon  had  made,  and  who,  but  for  him, 
would  never  have  been  king  of  Sweden,  w^hose 
crown  the  latter  at  any  time  could  have  crushed  like 
a  shell  in  his  hand  ; — this  weak-minded,  selfish,  un- 
grateful Gascon  taking  it  into  his  conceited  head  that 
he  might  become  Emperor  of  France,  had  entered 
his  native  country  by  way  of  Cologne,  and  with  a 
powerful  army  was  now  moving  tow^ards  Paris. 

^Notwithstanding  all  this,  the  allied  sovereigns  wei*e 
filled  with  terror  and  dismay  at  the  rapid  and  terri- 
ole  blows  ISTapoleon  had  inflicted  on  them,  and  were 
anxious  to  come  to  terms  with  him  before  greater  dis 


200  I'HE   OLD   GUARD. 

asters  should  overtake  them.  With  nearly  two  hun. 
dred  thousand  men,  they  had  been  scourged  and 
humbled  by  seventy  thousand ;  Blucher  had  lost 
twenty  thousand,  while  Napoleon  was  weakened  by 
not  more  than  four  thousand  men.  The  army  undei 
Schwartzenberg  too,  within  a  few  days  had  lost  twelve 
thousand — in  all  nearly  half  as  many  men  as  the 
French  Emperor  had  at  any  time  brought  into  the 
field.  The  lion  was  awake  again,  and  with  his  Old 
Guard  was  storming  over  their  batteries  and  treading 
down  their  veteran  troops  as  he  had  done  at  Jena, 
Austerlitz,  and  Friedland.  They  were  alarmed,  for 
they  began  to  hear  again  his  cannon  thundering  on 
the  gates  of  their  capitals.  A  treaty  was  proposed,  but 
among  other  hard  conditions  which  it  contained,  it  re- 
quired Kapoleon  to  abandon  all  his  conquests  and 
restore  France  to  the  limits  of  the  monarchy  under" 
Louis  XIY.  To  the  former  part  of  the  cond-itions  he 
would  consent,  but  to  the  latter,  never.  At  Frank- 
fort they  had  offered  to  let  the  Rhine  form  the  boun- 
dary of  France,  and  this  he  was  now  willing  to  grant, 
great  as  the  sacrifice  was. 

Many  have  blamed  him  for  not  accepting  these 
terms,  and  reposing  himself,  till  vrith  recruited 
strength  and  means  he  might  again  take  the  field. 
This  was  the  course  Austria  and  Prussia  had  repeat 
edly  pursued.  When  his  armies  were  in  their  capi 
tals,  those  monarchs  would  submit  to  any  terms 


napoleon's  resolution.  201 

inwardly  resolved  to  violate  the  most  sacred  treaties 
the  moment  an  opportunity  occurred  in  which  there 
was  a  prospect  of  success.  Though  allies  with  him 
in  the  invasion  of  Russia,  they  both  turned  against  him 
when  the  disastrous  retreat  from  Moscow  had  weak- 
ened his  power.  But  Napoleon  was  as  much  above 
these  sovereigns  in  magnanimity  as  he  was  in  genius. 
He  would  consent  to  nothing  but  a  solid  peace  and 
one  honorable  to  himself  and  the  French  people,  and 
when  urged  by  his  minister,  Maret,  to  yield  to  neces- 
sity, he  made  no  reply,  but  taking  up  a  volume  of 
Montesquieu,  read  aloud,  "  I  know  nothing  more 
magnanimous  than  the  I'esolution  which  a  monarch 
took  who  has  reigned  in  our  times  (Louis  XI Y.)  to 
bury  himself  under  the  ruins  of  his  throne  rather 
than  accept  conditions  unworthy  of  a  king.  lie  had 
a  mind  too  lofty  to  descend  lower  than  his  fortunes 
had  sunk  him,  he  knew  well  that  courage  may 
strengthen  a  crown,  but  infamy  never."  Sustained 
by  such  a  lofty  resolution,  he  turned,  sombre  and  stern 
and  with  an  undaunted  heart,  on  his  foes. 

It  was  unfortunate  for  him  that  he  did  not  carry 
out  his  original  plan  of  bringing  Eugene  from  Italy 
to  his  aid.  After  his  repulse  at  Rothiere,  he  sent  a 
despatch  to  him  to  hasten  across  the  Alps  and  threaten 
the  allies  in  rear.  This  would  have  brought  40,000 
fresh  troops  into  the  field,  and  at  a  dangerous  point  to 
the  enemy.  But  his  great  successes  gave  him  cour 
9* 


202  THE   OLD    GUARD. 

age,  and  he  countermanded  the  order.  In  fact  Im 
did  not  consider  himself  in  so  much  peril  as  othei*s 
did,  for  he  had  not  lost  a  single  battle,  if  we  except 
the  repulse  at  the  outset,  at  Rothiere.  He  had  met 
with  but  07ie  repulse,  while  he  and  his  Guard  had 
swept  every  field  on  which  they  had  struggled. 

Having  driven  back  the  allies  under  Schwai-tzen- 
berg,  Napoleon  again  turned  his  attention  to  Blucher, 
who  having  recovered  from  the  severe  chastisement 
he  had  received,  was  marching  rapidly  on  Paris.  He 
had  reached  Meaux,  only  three  days'  march  from  the 
city,  and  the  thunder  of  his  cannon  had  been  heard 
there,  striking  terror  into  the  hearts  of  its  inhabi- 
tants. 

But  this  iron-willed  Prussian,  while  exulting  in  the 
near  prospect  of  beholding  the  French  capital,  was 
arrested  with  the  stunning  news  that  Napoleon  with 
his  Old  Guard,  was  thundering  in  his  rear.  He 
immediately  retreated  in  great  haste  toward  Soissons, 
around  which  Bernadotte's  army  lay,  in  the  hope  to 
effect  a  junction  with  it  and  offer  his  pursuer  battle. 
Soissons  was  deemed  impregnable  and  was  in  posses- 
sion of  the  French.  Napoleon  had  sent  to  General 
Moreau,  the  commander,  to  defend  it  with  his  brave 
Poles,  the  remnant  of  Poniatowski's  corps,  to  the  "last 
drop  of  their  blood."  Instead  of  obeying  this  peremp- 
tory order,  the  cowardly  or  traitorous  comnaandei 
gave  up  the  place  without  striking  a  blow,  and  thai 


FALL    OF   SOISSONS.  2  OS 

too  just  as  Bluclier  was  approaching  it  with  his  tat- 
tered, ragged,  and  exhausted  army,  feeling  that  he 
was  marching  on  certain  destruction.  But  for  this 
Bhameful  rendition,  the  army  of  Silesia  would  have 
been  annihilated,  and  the  whole  aspect  of  the  cam- 
paign changed. 

[N'apoleon  was  thrown  into  a  transport  of  rage  at 
this  unexpected  overthrow  of  his  sagacious  combina- 
tion, exclaiming,  "  the  name  of  Moreau  always  brings 
misfortune."  The  weakness  or  crime  of  one  com- 
mander, had  sufficed  to  render  all  his  skilful  plans 
and  wearisome  marches  fruitless.  While  he  was 
expecting  to  deal  a  death-blow  to  the  army  of  Silesia, 
and  then  turn  back  as  before,  and  punish  the  tardy 
army,  under  Schwartzenberg,  he  saw  the  former  join 
his  troops  to  those  of  Bernadotte,  swelling  their 
forces  to  over  a  hundred  thousand  men,  while  he  had 
not  half  that  number  under  his  command.  It  was 
enough  to  break  the  heart  of  a  strong  man  to  see 
genius  and  effort  thus  rendered  useless,  and  such 
splendid  combinations  overthrown  by  the  fault  of  one 
officer.  It  seemed  as  if  Fate  was  detennined  to 
drive  this  great  soul  to  madness.  Kapoleon,  how- 
ever, with  his  exhausted  army,  moved  forward  and 
attacked  the  enemy  in  their  almost  impregnable 
position  at  Craonne.  Prodigies  of  valor  were  per- 
formed in  this  bloody  attack.  Drouot  in  the  midst 
of  his  guns,  the  Old  Guard  staggering  under  the  fire 


204  THE   OLD   GUARD. 

of  sixty  cannon,  wearied  columns  plunging  with  loud 
cheers  on  positions  that  looked  unassailable,  un- 
bounded devotion  of  officers  and  men,  combined  to 
make  it  one  of  the  most  remarkable  days  of  Napo- 
leon's life.  Still  it  was  the  Old  Guard  tliat  wrought 
the  miracles  that  paralyzed  the  enemy,  and  finally 
forced  it  to  retire.  In  writing  to  Joseph,  Napoleon 
said,  "  The  Old  Guard  alone  stood  firm — the  rest 
melted  like  %now?''  Alas,  the  Old  Guard  had  also 
melted  away,  but  only  under  the  tremendous  fire  of 
the  enemy's  batteries,  and  on  the  spot  where  they 
stood. 

Napoleon  now  saw  that  from  the  perils  which  en- 
vironed him,  nothing  short  of  a  miracle  could  deliv- 
er him,  and  while  traversing  this  bloody  battle-field 
in  gloom,  said,  "  I  see  clearly  that  this  war  is  an 
abyss,  hut  I  will  he  the  last  to  hury  myself  in  it.  If 
we  must  wear  the  fetters  it  is  not  I  who  will  stretch 
out  my  hands  to  receive  them.'''* 

Firm  and  calm  he  still  stood  at  bay — nay,  pushed 
boldly  on  the  enemy.  Following  up  the  retreating 
armies  of  Blucher  and  Bernadotte  to  Laon,  he  re- 
solved to  give  battle,  though  the  enemy  occupied  an 
exceedingly  strong  position  with  a  force  more  than 
double  his  own.  It  was  a  desperate  resolution,  but 
nothing  short  of  desperate  means  could  save  him. 

Having  taken  up  his  position  in  front  of  the  place. 


THE    GUARD    RETREATS.  205 

he  however  waited  the  arrival  of  Marmont  to  whom  he 
had  sent  despatches  to  join  him,  before  venturing  an 
attack.  This  marshal  who,  with  great  generalship, 
was  always  committing  egregious  blunders,  was  fast 
coming  up,  and  on  the  9th  bivouacked  within  a  few 
miles  of  TTapoleon.  The  next  day  lie  would  have 
effected  a  junction.  Yet  notwithstanding  he  was  in 
the  neighborliood  of  the  enemy,  with  whom  he  had 
been  engaged  during  the  day,  he  allowed  himself  to 
be  surprised  at  night,  and  utterly  annihilated. 

This  unexpected  disaster  compelled  Kapoleon  to 
retreat.  It  was  with  gloomy  forebodings  that  after 
such  prodigious  efforts  he  took  up  his  retrograde 
march  without  having  struck  a  decisive  blow. 

Before  he  left  Laon,  however,  he  made  the  enemy 
feel  the  weight  of  his  terrible  Guard,  which  so  daunted 
them  that  no  pursuit  was  attempted. 

Overmatched  and  exhausted  as  IS'apoleon  now  was, 
he  still  looked  resolutely  on  the  circle  of  fire  that  was 
steadily  growing  narrower  around  him.  His  great 
heart  beat  as  firmly  as  in  the  hour  of  victory,  and  the 
depth  of  his  anguish  could  be  seen  only  by  the 
increased  sternness  and  gravity  of  his  aspect.  He 
seemed  to  be  gazing  gloomily  into  the  future,  and  as 
he  stood  amid  his  unconquerable  Guard,  now  nc 
longer  in  complete  uniform  with  burnished  arms,  but 
ragged  and  wan,  besmeared  with  smoke  and  powder, 


206  TUE   OLD    GUARD. 

he  seemed  the  embodiment  of  thought  surrounded  b;^ 
the  shattered  instruments  of  power.  Those  scarred 
veterans  who  had  so  often  sent  up  the  sliout  of  vic- 
tory at  his  presence,  gazed  on  him  with  greater  awe 
than  ever.  In  the  long  and  silent  moods  that  came 
over  him,  they  saw  the  terrible  future  before  them. 
They  were  not  accustomed  to  such  constant  fits  of 
abstraction,  and  they  jocularly  called  him  '-'- Father 
ThouglitfulP,  Still  their  secret  convictions  belied 
their  outward  gaiety,  for  although  they  felt  strong  in 
their  resolution  and  valor,  they  could  not  but  see  that 
the  struggle  was  growing  hopeless.  To  die  for  their 
Emperor  w^as  an  easy  task,  but  would  that  save  him ! 
Forgetting  themselves,  they  thouglit  only  of  him,  as 
he,  forgetting  himself,  thought  only  of  France. 

But  though  wearied  and  overtasked,  his  was  a  will 
that  nothing  could  break — a  heart  that  no  danger  or 
calamity  could  crush,  and  while  Blucher  was  resting 
idle  atLaon,  he  fell  suddenly  on  Rheims,  occupied  by 
St.  Priest  with  14,000  men,  and  took  it,  relieving 
the  army  of  a  third  of  its  number,  together  with  its 
infamous  commander.  Here  he  had  a  last  review  of 
his  Old  Guard,  and  a  sad  spectacle  those  scarred  vet- 
erans presented.  For  nearly  two  months  they  had 
marched  over  the  most  impassable  roads,  fought  two 
armies  each  superior  to  their  own,  submitted  to  un.pa- 
ralleled  fatio^ue  without  a  murmur:  and  now  hairsiard 
and  wan,  their  uniform  in  tatters,  their  horses  mere 


ITS    APPEARANCE.  207 

skeletons,  their  guns  battered  and  black,  all  showing 
what  privations  and  toil  and  incessant  conflicts  they 
had  endured,  they  looked  the  mere  wreck  of  their 
former  selves.  Still  their  appearance  was  nothing 
compared  to  that  of  the  broken  down  young  con- 
scripts and  other  portions  of  the  army.  As  Kapoleon 
saw  these  last  defile  past  him,  a  frown  darkened  his 
features,  for  "  coming  events  were  casting  their 
shadows  before,"  but  when  his  glance  fell  on  the 
eagles  of  the  Old  Guard,  and  he  beheld  their  firm  set 
ranks  move  by,  a  smile  of  triumph  relaxed  his  stern 
expression,  for  he  felt  that  he  might  not  despair  so 
long  as  that  iron  band  closed  around  him. 

'No  sooner  w^as  Schwartzenberg  apprised  of  ]^apo- 
leon's  departure  to  arrest  Blucher,  than  he  advanced 
against  the  slight  curtain  of  troops  under  Oudinot 
and  Macdonald,  left  to  dispute  his  advance  to  Paris. 
The  French  marshals  were  of  course  driven  back,  . 
although  obstinately  contesting  every  inch  of  ground 
as  they  retired. 

The  serious  aspect  of  affairs  in  this  quarter  hur- 
ried Napoleon  back  as  before,  but  not  victorious  as 
then  over  Blucher. 

His  junction  with  Oiidinot  filled  the  allies  with, 
alarm,  and  Schwartzenberg  hastily  concentrated  his 
forces,  fearing  one  of  those  sudden  and  desperate 
blows  the  Emperor  w^as  accustomed  to  give  with  ^hig 
Old  Guard.     The  latter  endeavored  to  manoeuvre  ov 


208  THE   OLD   GUAiy). 

the  flank  and  rear  of  the  enemy,  but  their  rapid  cou 
centration  prevented  him,  so  that  he  was  compelled  to 
attack  a  force  double  his  own,  and  the  battle  of  Arcis- 
sLir-Aube  was  fought.  On  the  first  day  iN^apoleon 
was  in  the  midst  of  the  Guard,  who  stood  firm  as  a 
rock  under  one  of  the  most  terrific  cannonades  to 
which  they  had  ever  been  exposed.  Nearly  every 
one  of  his  staff  was  killed  or  wounded  by  his  side. 
A  bomb  fell  in  front  of  one  of  the  battalions  of  con- 
scripts, which  caused  a  sudden  confusion  in  their 
ranks.  Napoleon,  conscious  of  his  imminent  peril 
unless  his  troops  stood  firm,  spurred  fiercely  up  to 
the  shell  and  made  his  horse  smell  it.  It  burst, 
overthrowing  both  him  and  his  steed.  With  the  same 
impassible  face,  whose  serenity  no  power  on  earth 
seemed  able  to  disturb,  he  arose  from  his  mutilated 
steed  and  calmly  mounting  another,  stood  with  gloom 
on  his  brow,  but  grand  and  resolute  as  ever,  in  the 
vortex  of  the  battle.  Again  and  again  he  spurred 
at  the  head  of  his  Guard  on  the  most  deadly  batteries, 
and  though  all  around  him  were  struck,  he  seemed 
to  bear  a  charmed  life. 

At  ten  at  night  the  batteries  ceased  playing,  and 
the  two  armies  sunk  to  rest  on  the  field  they  had  piled 
with  the  dead, 

Tlie  next  day  Napoleon  seeing  that  it  was  useless 
to  contend  in  such  a  position  against  an  army  so 
vastly  superior  to  his  own,  commenced  a  retrent, 


THE   MARCH    TO    PARIS.  209 

which  he  eifected  in  perfect  order,  though  a  hundred 
cannon  were  playing  upon  his  retiring  columns.  The 
loss  was  nearly  equal  in  this  bloody  engagement,  and 
neither  could  claim  the  victory,  but  nothing  now 
could  arrest  the  double  movement  of  the  allies  on 
Paris.  JS^apoleon  then  saw  the  mistake  he  had  made 
in  not  having  relinquished  his  hold  on  Holland,  Italy, 
and  Spain,  and  brought  up  the  veteran  armies  that 
were  there  struggling  to  retain  his  possessions.  Still 
he  did  not  despair,  and  hoped  to  divert  the  allies  from 
their  onward  movement  by  marching  back  towards 
the  Rhine,  and  falling  on  their  communications.  To 
his  surprise,  however,  they  let  him  go,  and  moved 
en  masse  upon  Paris.  When  he  at  last  discovered 
their  determination,  he  wheeled  about,  and  taking 
with  him  the  Old  Guard,  strained  every  nerve  to 
reach  the  city  before  its  downfall.  Previous  to  start- 
ing, however,  he  delivered  another  of  his  terrible 
blows  on  the  force  left  to  watch  his  movements. 

The  devoted  G-uard  which  had  borne  the  weight  of 
this  campaign,  which  was  called  "  Campaign  of  the 
Imperial  Guard,"  and  had  made  unparalleled  marches 
and  endured  privations  that  would  have  broken  the 
spirit  and  strength  of  any  other  soldiers  in  Europe, 
were  now  called  upon  to  put  forth  still  greater  efforts. 
When  Kapoleon  announced  to  them  that  the  enemy 
was  marching  on  Paris,  and  they  must  hasten  to  its 
relief,  they  answered  him  with   a   shout,  and   soon 


210  THE    OLD   GUARD.^ 

those  brave  men  were  seen  moving  like  winged 
•troops  over  the  country.  Although  in  the  most  fright- 
ful condition,  having  been  without  bread  for  the  last 
six  days,  and  for  the  most  part  barefoot,  suffering 
grievously  for  the  mere  necessaries  of  life,  they  cheer- 
fully traversed  the  miry  roads  in  the  midst  of  pelting 
storms,  sternly  crowding  after  their  agitated,  but  still 
indomitable  chief.  A  little  after  midnight  of  the 
30th,  they  arrived  at  Troyes,  having  marched  twenty- 
four  hours  without  rest,  making  the  astonishing  dis- 
tance oi forty  miles.  But  no  troops  could  long  stand 
such  a  strain,  and  Napoleon  was  compelled  to  leave 
them  behind  to  rest  a  short  time;  and  proceeded 
alone  without  any  escort  towards  Paris.  His  agita- 
tion,  wild  ride,  and  distress  and  anger  when  he  heard 
of  the  capitulation  of  the  city,  are  well  known.  The 
thunderbolt  had  fallen. 

But  dark  as  the  prospect  now  grew  around  him, 
he  did  not  yield  to  despair.  He  had  entered  the 
capitals  of  every  sovereign  whose  troops  now  swarmed 
through  Paris.  In  their  kingly  palaces  he  had  dic- 
tated terms  to  them  and  treated  them  like  kings  still, 
and  they  must  reciprocate  this  treatment.  But  to'  his 
surprise  those  monarchs,  who  had  not  hesitated  to 
make  treaties  with  him  up  to  the  last  moment,  no 
sooner  found  themselves  in  possession  of  Paris,  than 
they  refused  to  recognise  him  as  a  legitimate  sove- 
reign.    Ah,  how  deeply  he  must  have  regretted  tlien 


FALl     OF    PARIS.  211 

the  leniency  he  bad  shown  them  in  former  years,  and 
bitterly  remembered  the  hour  when,  with  a  single 
blow,  he  could  have  dismembered  faithless  Austria, 
but  forbore. 

Still  his  case  was  not  hopeless — he  had  bivouacked 
amid  the  ashes  of  Moscow,  but  the  Russian  army  did 
not  die.  He  had  bombarded  Vienna,  but  the  king 
remained  ;  he  had  marched  into  Berlin,  but  the  Prus- 
sian columns  were  not  extinct.  True,  Paris  had 
fallen  and  he  looked  round  on  a  vast  ruin  ;  but  the 
monarchs  who  spurned  him  now  had  looked  upon  as 
great  a  ruin  wrought  by  his  hands,  and  with  less 
genius  and  resources  than  he  possessed,  had  risen  again, 
and  he  would  show  them  the  lion  was  not  yet  dead. 
He  had  not  been  beaten  in  a  single  battle — only  once, 
and  that  in  the  first  engagement  at  Rothiere,  had  he 
been  even  repulsed.  With  vastly  inferior  forces  he 
had  been  victorious  in  every  engagement.  Through 
constant  defeats  the  enemy  had  entered  his  capital. 
He  had  been  accustomed  to  march  over  routed  armies 
into  their  capitals,  but  over  him  and  that  Old  Guard 
they  could  not  with  their  gathered  millions  go.  They 
had  succeeded  because  with  his  few  troops  he  could 
not  block  every  passage  leading  from  the  extended 
frontiers  of  France  to  its  heart.  With  one  army  he 
could  not  spread  himself  the  whole  breadth  of  his 
empire  and  arrest  the  march  of  three  armies.  Against 
either  one  he  was  always  successful,  and  but  for  acci- 


212  TUK    OLD    GUARD. 

deuts  no  man  could  anticipate,  instead  of  heathi^ 
these  separately,  he  would  have  annihilated  them  in 
succession.  But  he  had  failed,  and  now  he  stood 
amid  perils  that  might  well  daunt  the  stoutest  heart. 
Still  there  was  room  for  hope.  Suchet  had  20,000 
veterans  in  Spain.  Soult,  who  had  retreated  into 
France,  had  over  30,000.  Marmont  and  Mortier,  who 
had  retired  from  Paris  on  its  capture,  had  also  a  large 
army.  Augereau  was  at  the  head  of  another,  Prince 
Eugene  of  another,  while  his  own  forces  numbered 
50,000,  among  which,  with  spirits  unbroken,  was  the 
steadfast  Old  Guard.  Besides  all  these,  Davoust  still 
held  Hamburg,  and  Camot  Bergen  op  Zoom,  which 
places,  together  with  Magdebourg,  "Wesel,  Mayence, 
Barcelona,  Antwerp,  Mantua,  and  Alexandria,  con- 
tained over  90,000  men  and  twelve  thousand  cannon 
all  at  his  disposal.  One  of  the  last  shouts  in  the  bat- 
tle around  Paris,  was  "  Yive  V  Einjpereur^''  from  some 
of  the  Old  Guard  who  had  fought  like  lions  under 
Curial.  His  marshals — veterans  tried  in  a  hundred 
battles — also  remained  to  him.  Davoust,  Suchet, 
Soult,  Yictor,  Marmont,  Mortier,  Massena,  Eugene, 
and  Ney — ^hosts  in  themselves,  were  left.  !N"ot  an 
army  had  been  dissipated,  and  he  could  look  around 
on  a  force  vast  enough,  with  him  and  his  marshals  at 
its  head,  to  cope  with  Europe  in  arms  against  him. 

At  all  events  he  would  strike  for  his  empire,   so 
long  as  a  blow  could  be  given.    Filled  with  this  io 


REVIEW    AT   FONTAINBLEAU.  213 

termination,  he,  at  Fontainbleau,  whither  he  had 
retired,  immediately  began  to  put  his  Guard  in  a 
proper  condition  for  active  service.  Having  made 
several  changes  among  the  commanding  officers,  he 
reviewed  it.  The  infantry  were  ranged  along  two 
sides ;  fifteen  deep,  and  after  he  had  gone  through  their 
ranks,  he  called  around  him  the  older  officers  and 
soldiers  of  each  company,  and  forming  them  in  a 
circle,  said,  "  Soldiers, .  the  enemy  has  stolen  three 
marches  on  us,  and  entered  Paris.  We  must  drive 
them  out  of  it.  The  unworthy  French  emigrants  whom 
we  have  pardoned,  have  assumed  tlie  white  cockade 
and  joined  the  enemy.  The  poltroons — they  shall 
receive  the  reward  of  this  new  attempt.  Let  us 
swear  to  conquer  or  die,  to  make  this  tri-colored  cock- 
ade respected,  which,  for  twenty  years,  has  always 
been  found  in  the  path  of  glory  and  honor."  With 
one  voice  they  cried,  "  Yes,  yes,  we  swear  it,  "  Vive 
VEmpereurP  The  infantry  then  defiled  rapidly  by 
and  gave  place  to  the  cavalry  which  shook  their  sa- 
bres as  they  passed,  crying,  "  Vive  VEmjpereurP  This 
unconquerable  corps  had  derived  from  its  intrepid 
leader  the  indomitable  will  and  heroic  bearing  in  the 
midst  of  adversity.  Though  just  relieved  from  un- 
paralleled efforts  and  sufferings,  worn  down  by  fatigue, 
and  needing  repose,  they  were  ready  at  his  command 
to  encounter  still  greater  hardships  and  undergo  still 
heavier  privations.     Over  many  a  doubtful  battlo 


214  THE   OLD   GUARD. 

field,  through  the  snow  and  frosts  of  Russia,  pasl 
flaming  batteries,  with  their  brave  arms  around  him^ 
tliej  had  carried  him  all  steadily  forward,  and  were 
ready  again  to  enfold  him  in  their  solid  squares, 
and  bid  defiance  to  the  world  in  arms.  Rising  in 
moral  grandeur  above  the  most  disheartening  circum- 
stances, above  every  selfish  gratification  and  fear  of 
peril  or  death,  they  stood  there  by  their  wrecked  Em- 
peror, the  same  "  column  of  granite  "  to  which  again 
and  again  he  had  riveted  his  fortunes  and  his  emj)ire 
in  safety. 

Immediately  after  the  review,  the  Guard  took  up 
their  march  for  Essonnes,  where  Marmontlay  with  his 
army.  They  reached  it  late  at  night  and  encamped 
outside. 

But  when  Marmont  discovered  that  Napoleon, 
instead  of  bending  to  the  storm  was  determined  to 
breast  it  boldly,  and  again  take  the  field,  he  opened 
secret  negotiations  with  the  allies,  the  result  of  which 
was,  he,  with  his  army,  were  to  abandon  the  important 
position  of  Essonnes  and  join  them.  He  accordingly 
at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  5th  of  April, 
having  previously  ordered  that  profound  silence 
should  be  maintained  in  the  ranks,  took  up  his  line  of 
march.  This  early  departure  and  silent  march  was 
taken  to  deceive  the  troops,  who  supposed  they  were 
about  to  be  led  against  the  enemy.  They  did  not 
discover  their  error  till  they  saw  the  Bavarian  army 


MARMONTS    I'RKASON.  219 

i'liarching  by  their  side,  ready  to  arrest  anj'  movement 
which  might  be  made  against  their  commander.  The 
Polish  cavah-y,  however,  no  sooner  saw  liow  they  had 
been  betrayed,  than  they  struck  tlielr  spurs  into  their 
horses  and  bursting  away,  came  in  a  fierce  gallop  to 
Fontainbleau,  and  reported  the  treason.  AVhen  Na- 
poleon heard  it,  he  exclaimed,  "Who  could  have 
believed  Marmont  capable  of  such  an  act,  a  man  with 
whom  I  have  divided  my  bread,  whom  I  drew  from 
obscurity,  whose  fortune  and  reputation  I  made.  The 
lot  of  sovereigns  is  to  make  ingrates.  Ah,  surely  his 
troops  did  not 'know  whither  he  was  leading  them, 
and  yet  he  has  always  before  this  given  me  the  most 
lively  proofs  of  attachment."  Soon  after,  Ney  began  to 
vacillate — declaring  it  was  useless  to  prosecute  the  war. 
The  young  generals  wxre  eager  to  march  against  the 
eneirv.  but  the  marshals  and  older  officers  were  tired 
of  the  protracted  conflict.  Besides,  the  defection  of 
Marmont  had  thrown  a  gloom  over  the  whole  army. 
His  example  was  contagious,  and  a  sudden  revulsion 
of  feeling  and  enthusiasm  followed,  and  ]N"apoleon 
saw  that  his  veteran  generals  could  not  be  relied 
upon.  The  allies  took  advantage  of  this  state  of 
things  and  immediately  rose  in  their  demands.  At 
first  they  had  stipulated  that  Kapoleon  should  abdi- 
cate in  favor  of  his  son — ^now  they  required  him  to 
abdicate  unconditionally.  The  senate  taking  courage, 
dethroned  him.     When  this  decision  was  brought 


216  THE   OLD    JUARD. 

him,  he  gave  way  to  a  torrent  of  indignation,  and 
refused  in  the  most  peremptory  manner  to  sign  hig 
abdication.  With  light  flashing  from  his  eyes,  and 
his  iron  will  written  on  every  feature  of  his  pale 
countenance,  he  declared  he  would  put  himself  again 
at  the  head  of  his  armies,  and  fall  on  the  field  of  bat- 
tle, rather  than  submit  to  such  humiliation ;  and  it 
was  not  till  his  marshals  gave  him  to  understand  that 
they  would  not  go  with  him,  that  he  consented  to 
yield. 

In  his  formal  abdication,  which  followed,  he  said, 
"  The  powerful  allies  having  proclaimed  that  the 
Emperor  Kapoleon  is  the  only  obstacle  in  the  way  of 
the  peace  of  Europe,  The  Emperor  Napoleon,  faith- 
ful to  his  oath,  declares  that  he  renounces  for  himself 
and  his  heirs,  the  thrones  of  France  and  Italy,  since  it 
is  not  merely  any  personal  sacrifice,  but  that  of  his 
life  he  would  make  for  the  interests  of  France."  He 
then  conversed  with  the  generals  of  his  Guard,  say- 
ing, "  Kow  that  all  is  ended,  and  I  can  no  longer  re- 
main here,  your  interest  is  with  the  Bourbon  family. 
It  will  rally  all  parties.  The  king,  they  say,  has 
judgment  and  discretion.  He  will  not  wish,  I  think, 
to  attach  his  name  to  a  bad  reign.  If  he  is  wise,  in 
occupying  my  bed  at  the  Tuilleries,  he  will  only 
change  the  drapery.  If  his  family  are  wise,  you  will 
be  happy,  but  he  must  treat  the  army  well,  and  not 
attempt  to  bring  back  the  past,  otherwise,  his  reign 


NAPOLEON   DESERTED.  217 

will  be  short."  Thus  he  went  on  uttering  truths  that 
a  Bourbon  could  never  understand,  till  driven  from 
his  throne. 

His  abdication  was  followed  by  the  most  shameful 
desertion,  which  broke  his  spirit  more  than  all  the 
disasters  which  for  the  last  two  years  had  accumu- 
lated upon  him,  or  the  loss  of  his  throne.  "  After  it," 
says  Caulincourt,  his  grand  equery,  "  every  hour  was 
marked  by  fresh  voids  in  the  Emperor's  household. 
The  universal  object  was  how  to  get  first  to  Paris. 
All  persons  in  office  quitted  their  places  without 
leave,  or  even  asking  permission  ;  one  after  another 
they  all  slipped  away,  totally  forgetting  him  to  whom 
they  owed  everything,  but  who  no  longer  had  any- 
thing to  give.  The  universal  complaint  was,  that  he 
so  long  delayed  the  fonnal  announcement  of  his 
abdication.  "  It  was  high  time,"  every  one  said,  "  for 
all  this  to  come  to  an  end  ;  it  is  absolute  childishness 
to  remain  any  longer  in  the  anti-chambers  of  Fon- 
tainbleau  when  favors  are  showering  down  at  Paris," 
and  with  that  they  all  set  off  for  the  capitol.  Such 
was  their  anxiety  to  hear  of  his  abdication,  that  they 
pursued  misfortune  even  into  its  last  asylum ;  and 
every  time  the  door  of  the  cabinet  opened,  a  crowd 
of  heads  was  seen  peeping  in  to  gain  the  first  hint  of 
the  much  longed-for  news."  His  household  was  de- 
serted of  men  of  distinction,  with  the  exception  of 
Maret  and  Caulincourt.    Even  his  valet  Constant, 


218  THE   OLD    GUARD. 

who  had  served  him  fourteen  years,  stole  a  hundred 
thousand  francs  and  ran  away,  and  the  Mameluke 
Roustan,  with  him.  The  defection  reached  the  army. 
Berthier  left  him  without  even  a  formal  adieu.  When 
Napoleon  heard  of  his  departure,  he  said  scornfully, 
"  He  was  born  a  courtier ;  you  will  see  my  vice-con- 
stable mendicating  employment  from  the  Bourbons. 
I  feel  mortified  that  men  whom  I  have  raised  so  high 
in  the  eyes  of  Europe  should  sink  so  low.  What 
have  they  made  of  that  halo  of  glory  through  which 
they  have  hitherto  been  seen  by  the  stranger.  What 
must  the  sovereigns  think  of  such  a  termination  to 
those  who  have  illustrated  my  reign."  The  old  gen- 
erals whom  he  had  covered  with  glory  hastened  to 
offer  their  swords  to  their  new  master,  and  in  the 
struggle  on  every  side  for  place  and  preferment,  Na- 
poleon was  abandoned.  This  was  an  unexpected 
blow,  and  it  broke  him  down.  That  will  of  iron  and 
soul  of  indomitable  courage  that  no  misfortune  or  dan- 
ger could  shake,  and  he  who,  when  alone,  could  bend 
his  haughty  brow  on  the  sovereigns  of  Europe,  greater 
in  his  isolation  than  they  in  their  triumphs,  sunk 
under  the  desertion  of  his  followers.  It  was  the  only 
time  in  his  life  that  he  ever  exhibited  weakness,  and 
he  resolved  to  take  his  own  life.  Those  around  him 
observed  a  strangeness  of  demeanor,  as  if  the  present 
was  forgotten,  and  something  remote  and  mysterious 
absorbed  his  thoughts.    He  spoke  of  the  heroes  of 


NAPOLEON   TAKES    POISON.  219 

antiquity  who  would  not  survive  theii  misfortunes, 
and  on  the  night  of  the  12tli,  on  taking  leave  of  Cau- 
lincourt,  he  said  with  a  look  of  settled  melancholy, 
"  My  resolution  is  taken  ;  we  must  end,  I  feel  it."  A 
few  hours  after,  Caulincourt  was  awakened  by  Kapo- 
leon's  valet,  who  rushing  in,  said  that  the  Emperoi 
was  in  convulsions  and  dying.  As  he  reached  the 
apartment,  he  saw  Maret  and  Bertrand  standing  over 
the  bed,  from  which  arose  stifled  groans  wrung  by 
agony  from  the  breast  of  the  royal  sufferer.  Soon 
after  Ivan,  his  surgeon,  ran  in  greatly  terrified  ;  for 
he  had  seen  Napoleon  shortly  after  retiring,  rise  and 
pour  some  liquid  from  a  vial  and  drink  it.  This 
liquid  he  had  just  discovered  to  be  a  subtle  poison  he 
himself  mixed  for  the  Emperor  when  in  Russia,  to  be 
taken  in  the  last  emergency,  if  captured  by  the  Cos- 
sacks. Caulincourt  leaned  over  him  and  took  his 
hand  and  found  it  already  cold.  The  Emperor  opened 
his  eyes  and  said  in  a  feeble  voice,  "  Caulincourt,  I 
am  about  to  die.  I  recommend  to  you  my  wife  and 
son — defend  my  memory.  I  could  no  longer  endure 
life.  The  desertion  of  my  old  companions  in  arms  had 
hrohen  my  heartP  The  bolt  had  come  from  his  brave 
"companions  in  arms"  with  whom  he  had  toiled 
over  so  many  battle-fields,  shared  so  many  hardships, 
and  triumphed  together  in  so  many  victories,  and 
whose  renown  was  a  part  of  his  own. 
The  dose,  however,  probably   from  being  kept  sc 


220  THE   OLD   GUARD., 

long  proved  too  weak,  and  after  the  most  excmciating 
agony  for  two  hours,  he  was  relieved  by  violent  vom- 
iting. The  spasms  gradually  became  less  severe,  and 
at  length  he  fell  asleep.  On  awaking  he  said,  "Ivan,, 
the  dose  was  not  strong  enough — God  did  not  will  it;" 
and  from  that  moment  his  wonted  serenity  returned, 
and  he  began  to  make  preparations  for  his  departure. 
But  amid  this  general  abandonment,  there  was  an 
exhibition  of  •attachment  and  fidelity  which  more 
than  compensated  for  all  the  disgrace  in  which  the 
mighty  drama  was  closing,  and  threw  a  halo  of 
glory  around  the  closing  scene,  worthy  of  !N^apoleon 
and  his  career.  The  Old  Guard  to  a  man  stood  firm. 
Not  one  in  that  vast  body  would  leave  him.  Rock- 
fast  in  its  afiection,  as  in  its  courage,  it  was  above  the 
contagion  of  selfish  example  as  it  had  ever  been  above 
that  of  fear.  Those  stern  veterans  saw  with  scorn  the 
base  abandonment  of  their  chief,  and  closed  around 
him  more  devotedly  than  ever.  True,  he  had  nothing 
more  to  give  them.  A  banished  and  powerless  man, 
they  could  gain  nothing  by  adhering  to  his  fallen 
fortunes  but  disgrace  and  suspicion.  It  mattered  not ; 
in  their  frozen  bivouacks,  on  the  field  of  carnage,  in 
the  midst  of  famine,  and  in  the  triumph  of  victory, 
they  had  enfolded  him  in  their  protecting  squares, 
and  they  would  not  desert  him  now.  Grand  like 
their  chief,  they  scorned  to  stoop  to  meanness  for 
self-preservation.      They  all,  with  one    accord,  de 


jfTS    FAITHFULNESS.  221 

manded  permission  to  accompany  him  in  his  exile. 
This  the  allies  would  not  grant ;  only  four  hundred 
were  permitted  to  go  as  a  body-guard,  while  fifteen 
hundred  might  escort  him  to  the  sea-side,  where  he 
was  to  embark. 

The  20th  of  April  was  fixed  for  his  departure,  and 
after  one  more  struggle,  the  great  drama  would  close — 
he  was  yet  to  bid  farewell  to  his  faithful  Guard,  his 
companions  by  night  and  day  for  so  many  years,  and 
through  so  many  trying  scenes.  These  veterans, 
with  tears  in  their  eyes,  stood  in  the  court  of  Cheval- 
blanc,  drawn  up  in  two  ranks,  waiting  to  take  fare™ 
well  forever  of  their  beloved  commander.  At  noon 
he  descended  the  stairs  of  the  palace,  and  walking 
through  the  throng  of  carriages  waiting  at  the  door, 
stepped  into  the  midst  of  the  Old  Guard,  which  im- 
mediately closed  in  a  circle  around  him.  Casting  his 
eye  over  the  familiar  ranks,  he  said,  in  a  calm  but 
subdued  voice,  "  Ofiicers  and  soldiers  of  my  Guard,  1 
bid  you  adieu.  For  twenty  years  I  have  led  you  in 
the  path  of  victory — for  twenty  years  you  have  served 
me  with  honor  and  fidelity — receive  my  thanks.  My 
ami  has  always  been  the  happiness  and  glory  of 
France.  To-day  circumstances  are  changed.  When 
all  Europe  is  armed  against  me,  when  all  the  princes 
and  powers  have  leagued  together,  when  a  great  por- 
tion of  my  empire  is  seized,  and  a  part  of  France  *  * 
*  *  *."     He  paused   a  moment  at  these  words,  rn  1 


222  THE   OLD   GUARD. 

then  in  an  altered  voice  continued,  "When  anothei 
order  of  things  is  established,  I  ought  to  yield. 

"With  you  and  the  brave  men  who  remained 
devoted  to  me,  I  could  have  resisted  all  the  efforts  of 
my  enemies,  but  I  should  have  kindled  a  civil  war  in 
our  beautiful  France — in  the  bosom  of  our  beloved 
country. 

"  Do  not  abandon  your  unhappy  country  ;  submit 
to  your  chiefs,  and  continue  to  march  in  the  road  of 
honor  where  you  have  always  been  found.  Grieve 
not  over  my  lot,  great  remembrances  remain  with  me. 
I  shall  occupy  my  time  nobly  in  writing  my  history 
and  yours. 

"  Officers  and  soldiers,  1  am  content  with  you.  I  am 
not  able  to  embrace  you  all,  but  I  will  embrace  your 
general.  Adieu,  my  children,  adieu,  my  friends,  pre- 
serve me  in  your  memory.  I  shall  be  happy  when  I 
hear  that  you  are  so."  Then  turning  to  General 
Petit,  he  said,  "  Come,  General."  Petit  approached, 
and  Napoleon  pressed  him  to  his  overburdened  breast. 
He  then  asked  for  the  eagle  that  he  might  embrace 
that  also.  The  standard-bearer  inclined  the  eagle; 
Napoleon  kissed  it  three  times,  every  feature  working 
with  the  intensity  of  his  feelings.  "  Ah,  dear  eagle," 
said  he,  and  after  a  pause  in  which  it  seemed  for  a 
moment  that  his  firmness  would  give  wav  before  the 
swelling  tide  of  enJotion  that  struggled  for  utterance, 
he  added  tenderly,  "  Adieu,  my  children,  adian,  my 


PARTING    SCENE   WITH   NAPOLEON.  223 

braves,  surro'ind  me  once  again."  Those  scarred  vet- 
erans had  never  seen  their  chief  so  moved  before, 
and  as  they  stood  and  gazed  in  mournful  silence  on 
him  whom  they  were  to  see  no  more,  great  tears 
rolled  down  their  scarred  visages,  and  their  lion  hearts 
were  broken  with  grief.  Napoleon  threw  one  glance 
apon  them  and  their  eagle,  then  tore  himself  away, 
and  flinging  himself  into  a  carriage,  drove  off  toward 
the  place  where  he  was  to  embark. 

The  silence  that  reigned  in  the  ranks  after  his  dis- 
appearance, the  mournful  aspects  of  the  men,  the 
utter  loneliness  which  every  one  felt,  showed  what  a 
place  Napoleon  held  in  their  affections.  It  was  the 
love  the  brave  always  bear  the  brave  who  have  com- 
bated by  their  sides.  The  scene  was  worthy  of  the 
actors  in  it,  and  Napoleon  could  not  have  had  a  more 
glorious  termination  to  his  great  career. 

The  world  never  witnessed  any  thing  more  indom- 
itable than  Napoleon  and  that  Old  Guard  ;  the  earth 
never  shook  under  any  thing  more  terrible  than  their 
tread,  and  the  eye  of  man  never  gazed  on  more  ter- 
rific scenes  than  they  had  moved  amid  imappalled, 
yet  here  at  the  last  they  were  melted  to  tears.  It  was 
a  scene  to  touch  the  hardest  heart,  and  the  allied  offi- 
cers who  had  been  sent  to  accompany  Napoleon  at 
his  departure,  could  not  repress  their  emotion  in  wit- 
nessing it.  A  hundred  fields  of  fame  seemed  to  look 
down  on  them  there — great  remembrances  clustered 


THE  OLD   guard; 

around  them.  From  tlie  dazzling  splendor  of  the 
pyramids — from  the  Alps,  the  Pyrenees,  from  Italy, 
from  tl\e  Khine,  the  Danube,  and  the  Niemen,  ihe 
eye  turned  to  that  last  adieu,  scarcely  convinced  that 
that  was  the  end  of  it  all. 

Fontainbleau  was  deserted,  and  the  Old  Guard  took 
up  its  march  for  Paris.  In  the  imposing  pageants  the 
allied  sovereigns  kept  up  in  the  capital,  it  too  was  com- 
pelled to  make  a  part,  and  was  seen  side  by  side  with 
the  Russian,  Prussian,  and  Austrian  Guards.  Yet  even 
here  the  veterans  bore  the  same  undaunted  aspect,  and 
looked  more  like  conquerors  than  conquered.  Their 
masters,  but  not  their  victors,  were  about  them.  They 
might  assume  the  relation  of  conquerors,  but  never 
on  the  field  of  battle  had  they  earned  the  right  to  do 
so.  In  the  very  last  stiniggle  which  ended  in  the 
overthrow  of  the  empire,  not  once  had  they  been 
beaten,  while  before  their  charge  the  firmest  ranks 
of  their  foes  had  been  shivered  into  fragments.  The 
very  last  time  they  had  moved  with  levelled  bayonets 
on  the  enemy,  they  had  trampled  them  under  foot, 
and  why  should  they  feel  like  vanquished  men  ! 

It  was  this  very  consciousness  of  never  having  been 
beaten,  and  the  firm  belief  they  could  not  be,  that 
made  the  position  they  were  compelled  to  occupy  so 
hateful,  and  gave  them  a  sternness  of  expression  and 
haughtiness  of  bearing  that  attracted  every  beholder. 
With  the  same  steady  step  that  had  made  Europe 


ITS   BEARING.  22  G 

tremble,  they  defiled  before  their  new  masters,  while 
their  sullen  aspects  and  scornful  looks  gave  rise  to 
many  dark  suspicions  and  secret  fears.  Fields  of 
slaughter  rose  one  after  another  in  dark  succession 
as  they  passed,  telling  of  deeds  of  valor  undreamed 
of  before. 

So  sullen  was  their  humor,  and  so  irritable  did  they 
become  in  their  humiliating  position,  that  they  con 
stantly  sought  quarrels  with  their  enemies. 

"When  Louis  XYIII.  entered  Paris,  the  grenadiers 
of  the  Guard  maintained  a  gloomy  silence,  none  but 
the  dragoons  and  guards  of  honor  could  be  prevailed 
upon  to  cry  "  Vive  le  JRoiP  These  old  veterans  refused 
to  obey  their  officers  in  this  respect,  and  when  the  re- 
view was  past,  they  shouted,  "  Yive  V  EmnpereurP 

Usually  distinguished  for  their  peaceable  deport- 
ment, the  soldiers  now  became  intractable,  and  duels 
with  the  troops  of  the  allied  army  were  of  daily  occur 
rence. 

One  day  tne  Austrian  grenadiers  appeared  with 
green  sprigs  in  their  caps.  This,  the  Old  Guard  took 
as  a  sign  of  triumph,  and  immediately  insulted  them, 
daring  them  to  battle.  Such  was  its  rage  at  their 
presuming  to  wear  publicly  a  badge  of  triumph 
when  they  had  been  beaten  on  every  field  of  Europe, 
that  Schwartzenberg  had  to  write  the  French  minis- 
ter of  war  on  the  subject,  and  caused  to  be  put  in  the 
Paris  journals  an   article  stating  that  these  "  green 


226  TJIE   OLD   GUARD.^ 

brandies  were  not  designed  as  a  mark  of  triumph 
but  a  simple  rallying  sign,  prescribed  from  time  im- 
memorial by  military  rules  both  in  peace  and  war." 

Savage  and  morose,  the  Old  Guard  trod  the  streets 
of  Paris  on  review  in  silence,  but  when  in  their  bar 
racks  their  indignation  found  open  vent,  and  their 
"  Yive  V  Empereur^^  was  often  heard. 

So  grievously  did  they  take  the  altered  state  of 
things. 


CHAPTER  Xn. 

1815. 

THE    DLD    GIJAKD    UNDER   THE   RESTORATION. 

Its  bearing  lowa\  Is  its  foes— Its  anger  at  losing  its  colors— The  Old  Guard  at  Elb*— 
Napoleon's  habits— Anecdotes  illustrating  the  discontent  of  the  troops  in  thetf 
exile— Their  return  to  France  and  march  to  Paris— Eeception  of  the  Guard— Las* 
charge  at  Waterloo. 

The  aspect  of  affairs  did  not  improve  much  after  the 
allied  troops  left  Paris.  The  Old  Guard  on  the  one 
hand  was  an  object  of  suspicion  and  fear — on  the 
other  it  scorned  the  new  system  of  things.  As  for 
Marmont,  its  contempt  for  him  was  open  and  undis- 
guised. For  the  traitor  who  had  brought  abont  their 
humiliation  they  had  nothing  but  maledictions.  Louis 
XYIII.  would  gladly  have  disbanded  the  corps  but  he 
dared  not. 

There  was  no  bond  of  sympathy  between  it  and  a 
Bourbon,  and  to  serve  him  after  being  the  prop  and 


228  THE    OLD    GUARD. 

pride  of*  Napoleon  was  as  mortifying  as  to  be  taunted 
by  the  stranger.  In  fact  there  was  sometliing  twice 
as  regal  about  the  bearing  and  aspect  of  the  Guard, 
as  there  was  in  the  king  himself.  Still  Louis  com- 
menced by  flattering  and  caressing  it.  He  eulogized 
it  and  was  prodigal  of  promises.  He  told  the  mar- 
shals that  he  wished  to  look  upon  the  Guard  as  his 
stay  and  defence,  and  went  so  far  as  to  toast  it  at  a 
public  dinner.  But  he  could  make  no  advance  in  its 
affections — proud  of  its  old  renown,  sore  from  recent 
humiliations,  nothing  seemed  able  to  satisfy  it.  To 
complete  and  make  permanent  the  breach,  the  king 
ordered  the  tri-color  to  be  thrown  aside.  It  was 
decreed  that  the  mere  wearing  of  it  should  be  con- 
sidered open  rebellion.  This  was  accusing  those  who 
composed  the  Old  Guard  of  crime,  when  under  these 
colors  they  were  shedding  their  blood  on  the  soil  of 
France  to  keep  it  from  being  defiled  by  the  foot  of  the 
stranger.  But  it  was  to  them  a  cherished  symbol  re 
minding  them  of  their  deeds  of  renown.  In  many  a 
deadly  encounter  they  had  clung  to  the  tri-colored 
standard  with  a  tenacity  nothing  could  shake.  They 
had  pressed  after  it  through  fire  and  blood,  and  over 
ranks  of  living  men.  From  the  vortex  of  the  battle, 
whither  they  had  earned  it,  they  had  seen  it  emerge 
riddled  with  ^alls  and  singed  with  flame,  but  still  tri 
umphautly  streaming  in  the  wind.  They  had  swonj 
to  defend  it,  and  die  rather  than  surrender  it,  and  no 


THE   TKI-COLORED   FLAG.  22£ 

mortal  power  had  ever  been  able  to  wrench  it  from 
their  grasp.  They  had  seen  it  wave  by  the  pyramids 
and  droop  along  the  glaciers  of  the  Alps.  Over  count- 
less fortresses  and  cities  they  had  lifted  it  in  triumph. 
They  had  watched  it  flutteriug  amid  the  flames  of  Mos- 
cow, and  closed  firmlj^  around  it  when  beat  upon  by  the 
storms  of  a  Russian  winter.  It  had  watched  with  thein 
around  their  frozen  bivouacs,  and  had  become  endear- 
ed to  them  by  a  thousand  struggles  to  preserve  it  untar- 
nished ;  they  had  baptized  it  in  their  own  blood,  and 
it  had  been  their  companion  through  years  of  toil 
and  safl*ering,  and  now  to  surrender  it  at  the  com- 
mand of  a  Bourbon — to  let  it  drop  ignobly  from  their 
hands  when  through  such  perils  and  death  struggles, 
they  had  held  it  with  a  firm  grasp,  filled  them  with 
indignation  and  grief.  That  tri- color  flag  had  made 
the  tour  of  Europe  with  them,  and  was  at  once 
the  symbol  of  their  glory  and  the  history  of  their 
needs.  Enraged  at  the  command  to  exchange  it  for 
the  white  flag,  many  of  the  regiments  burned  their 
colors  father  than  part  with  them,  and  preserved  the 
ashes  as  a  sacred  relic.  Most  of  the  soldiers  wore  the 
tri-colored  cockade  underneath  the  white  one,  and  the 
eagles  were  hidden  away  to  preserve  them.  They 
were  changed  into  "  the  royal  corps  of  France,"  but 
they  had  some  mementoes  left  to  show  they  were  still 
the  Old  Guard  of  K'apoleon. 

But  the  old  order  of  things  was  to  be  re-established. 


THE    OLD    GUARD. 

and  not  only  were  the  national  colors  changed  but 
the  Guard  itself  underwent  modifications  so  as  to 
efface,  as  much  as  possible,  the  remembrance  of  the 
deeds  that  had  immortalized  it.  Its  officers  were  left 
in  penury  and  want,  and  nobles  of  the  old  regime 
filled  all  places  of  honor  and  emolument. 

This  ridiculous  conduct  on  the  part  of  the  king, 
completed  the  alienation  of  the  Guard,  and  its  bear- 
ing became  so.  fierce  and  threatening  that  it  was  sent 
from  Paris. 

But  the  injustice  and  oppression  under  which  it 
sufiered  did  not  produce  such  open  indignation  as  the 
taunts  and  insults  the  officers  and  their  wives  received 
— the  former  from  courtiers  and  the  latter  from  even 
courtezans,  who  were  in  the  favor  of  Louis,  and  the 
contemptible  attacks  in  the  newspapers  on  Napoleon. 
These  latter  called  him  a  fool — declared  that  he  had 
become  an  object  of  pity  and  derision,  that  all  his 
•a-oops  had  abandoned  him  gladly  and  returned  to 
France  to  range  themselves  under  the  untarnished 
flag  of  the  Bourbons.  These  things  were  discussed 
by  officers  and  men  in  their  quarters,  and  deep  though 
smothered  threats  of  vengeance  uttered. 

Soon  after,  a  conspiracy  was  set  on  foot  to  bring 

back  Napoleon.     The  officers  of  the  Old  Guard  were 

deeply  implicated  in  it,  and  occasional  intimations 

cached  the  soldiers  filling  them  with  joy,  for  they 

burned  to  see  their  emperor  once  more  in  their  midst 


THE    GUARD   IN    ELBA.  231 

They  were  heard  to  say,  "  he  will  reappear  tu  chase 
away  with  a  look  these  emigrants  who  have  insulted 
our  ancient  glory. 

THE   OLD    GUARD   IN   ELBA. 

The  Island  of  Elba  was  erected  by  the  allies  into  a 
sovereignty  for  ^N^apoleon,  of  which  he  took  posses- 
sion. May  4th.  He  who  had  swayed  an  empire  that 
reached  from  the  Baltic  to  the  Mediterranean,  and  at 
whose  imperial  voice  nearly  a  million  and  a  half  of 
men  stood  up  in  order  of  battle,  now  had  a  kingdom 
eight  miles  long  and  two  miles  broad,  and  an  army 
of  four  hundred  men  to  protect  it.  It  was  one  of 
those  terrible  reverses  of  fortune  it  seems  strange  the 
human  mind  can  endure  without  the  overthrow  of 
reason.  To  be  hurled  from  the  throne  of  such  a  vast 
empire  and  such  heights  of  grandeur  and  power  to 
the  dominion  of  a  little  island,  was  a  mockery  more 
bitter  to  bear  than  death.  ISTapoleon,  however,  met 
his  fate  with  the  dignity  and  serenity  of  a  great 
mind.  His  first  care  on  his  arrival  was  his  Old 
Guard.  He  organized  it  into  six  companies  with  a 
staff,  and  added  a  company  of  marines,  and  also  a  com- 
pany of  Polish  lancers  to  which  he  gave  the  name  of 
the  "  Squadron  NajpoleonP  He  provided  clean  and 
comfortable  barracks,  and  all  the  necessaries  of  life 
for  this  little  army,  and  then  turned  his  attention  to 
his  new  kingdom.     Instead  of  sitting  down  in  sullen 


282  THE   OLD   GUARD. 

gloom  or  devoting  himself  solely  to  pleasure  in  order 
to  prevent  time  from  banging  heavy  on  his  hands,  he 
went  to  work  with  the  same  zeal  and  cheerfulness  he 
did,  when  an  empire  was  under  his  control.  Ho 
developed  the  resources  of  the  island,  and  gave  a  new 
impulse  to  industry  and  commerce.  He  ordered  new 
mines  to  be  opened,  grounds  drained,  and  everything 
done  to  advance  the  interests  or  ameliorate  the  condi- 
tion of  his  subjects. 

He  rose  early  in  the  morning,  and  accompanied  by 
Bertrand  or  Drouot,  rode  over  diiferent  parts  of  the 
island  to  see  how  his  little  kingdom  was  getting  on. 
After  breakfast  he  reviewed  his  miniature  army,  as 
he  was  accustomed  to  review  the  Old  Guard  in  the 
court  of  the  Tuileries.  He  would  manoeuvre  tliese 
sometimes,  for  several  hours.  It  seemed  to  amuse 
him  and  bring  back  those  scenes  of  grandeur  with 
which  he  had  astonished  the  world.  He  devoted 
himself  also  to  literature,  and  by  his  cheerfulness  and 
urbanity,  made  all  happy  about  him. 

Sometimes  he  would  go  on  foot  to  diiferent  points 
of  the  island,  enter  the  stores  and  make  purchases 
or  leave  orders,  and  terminate  his  tour  at  the  barracks 
of  the  Guard,  by  which  he  was  always  received  with 
loud  acclamations. 

But  the  old  veterans,  accustomed  to  a  life  of  activ- 
ity, and  when  in  barracks  to  the  variety  and  pleasure 
of  a  city,  grew  weary  of  this  isolation,  and  togethet 


LIFE    IN    ELBA.  23S 

with  the  officers,  pined  for  a  different  sphere  of 
action.  In  order  to  drive  away  these  feelings  IS^apo- 
leon  obtained  a  company  of  comedians  from  Trieste 
and  l^aples,  and  set  up  a  little  theatre  for  their  enter 
tainment.  The  soldiers  beheld  again  the  Yaude- 
villes  which  had  delighted  them  in  Paris,  and  soon 
they  were  heard  at  all  hours  of  the  day  humming 
some  familiar  song  wiiich  these  exhibitions  recalled 
to  mind. 

Still  the  prospect  of  a  life  of  idleness  and  exile 
was  not  very  cheering,  and  [N'apoleon  saw  with  regret 
the  growing  desire  among  officers  and  men  to  change 
their  residence  for  one  more  congenial  to  their  tastes. 
One  day  on  entering  the  barracks  of  his  Guard,  while 
they  were  preparing  dinner,  he  said  pleasantly  to  a 
group  standing  near  him,  "Well,  my  grumblers,  is 
the  soup  good  to  day  ?" 

"Yes,  my  Emperor,"  said  one  of  the  old  scarred 
veterans,  "  but  it  would  be  better  if ," 

"If  what,"  replied  Kapoleon,  "is  not  the  meat 
good,  and  the  vegetables,  are  they  tough  ?" 

"  On  the  contrary,"  responded  the  grenadier,  "  the 
meat  and  vegetables  are  excellent,  but  one  thing  is 
wanting  which  it  is  not  in  your  power  to  give." 

"What's  that,  speak,  let  us  see?"  demanded  Na- 
poleon impatiently. 

"  Water  of  the  Seine  to  hoil  them  in^^^  said   the 


234  THE    OLD    GUARD. 

veteran  coolly,  and  without  changing  a  muscle  of  his 
countenance. 

Napoleon  smiled  bitterly  at  the  hit,  exclaiming,  as 
he  walked  away,  "  Bah  !  bah !  one  can  eat  a  partridge 
very  well  without  an  orange.  You  are  too  much  of  a 
gouraiet." 

At  another  time  as  he  was  walking  at  evening,  as 
he  was  accustomed  to  do,  backwards  and  forwards 
through  the  long  avenues  of  sycamores  that  bordered 
the  grounds  of  his  palace  toward  the  sea,  he  came 
suddenly  upon  an  old  grenadier  sitting  at  the  foot  of 
a  tree  looking  very  melancholy. 

"  What  are  you  doing  here  alone  ?"  he  demanded 
brusquely ;  "  what  are  you  thinking  about  ?" 

The  soldier  sprang  to  his  feet  with  the  military 
salute,  and  seeing  a  smile  on  the  Emperor's  face 
replied  frankly,  "  I  was  thinking,  my  Emperor,  of  my 
country,  and  I  said  to  myself,  this  is  the  close  of  the 
harvest  time  there." 

"  From  what  country  are  you  ?" 

"  From  Antram,  four  little  leagues  from  Kennes,  in 
Brittany." 

"  Brittany,"  exclaimed  INapoleon,  "  is  a  very  good 
countrj^,  a  country  of  brave  men,  but  a  villanous 
heaven,  it  always  rains  there,  while  here  the  climate 
is  sweet,  the  days  are  superb,  and  the  sky  resplendent. 
The  isle  of  Elba  is  a  much  better  place  to  live  in  thar 
Brittany." 


DROUOT.  235 

"  My  Emperor,"  replied  the  home-sick  old  soldier, 
"  I  am  too  honest  to  deceive  you,  but  saving  your 
majesty,  I  love  the  rain  which  falls  at  Antram  better 
than  the  beautiful  days  of  Elba,  it  is  my  idea,  and  I 
may  say  it  without  offending  your  majesty." 

"  But,"  continued  E'apoleon,  "  why  don't  you  amuse 
yourself  like  your  comrades  ?  You  have  leisure,  the 
wine  is  good,  and  you  have  the  theatre  to  divert  you ; 
go  to  the  theatre." 

"  That's  true,  my  Emperor,  but  the  pieces  at  the 
theatre  do  not  equal  those  punchinellos  of  the  boule- 
vards of  the  Temple — that's  something  amusing." 

"  Ah,  well,"  said  ISTapoleon,  as  he  walked  away, 
"  have  patience ;  perhaps  some  day  you  will  see  again 
the  boulevards  of  the  Temple  and  its  punchinellos." 

He  repeated  this  conversation  at  evening  and  smiled 
at  the  simplicity  and  frankness  of  the  old  grenadier. 
The  story  soon  got  wind,  and  "  I  love  better  the  pun- 
chinellos," w^as  in  every  one's  mouth.  It  had  struck 
a  responsive  chord  in  the  heart  of  each,  and  it  was 
soon  apparent  how  universal  the  grenadier's  sentiment 
had  become,  for  it  gave  them  a  way  of  expressing 
their  feelings  without  offence. 

Speaking  of  it  one  day,  Drouot  said  to  IS^apoleon, 
"  We  make  poor  Robinson  Crusoes,  and  we  do  not 
resemble  much  Telemachus,  in  the  isle  of  Calypso,  for 
I  presume  if  Minerva  should  appear  among  us  in  the 
shape  of  Mentor,  she  would  net  find  it  necessary  tc 


236  THF^   OlD   GUARD. 

throw  us  into  the  sea  in  order  to  drive  us  from  the 
island.'' 

"  Ah  !  that  is  it,"  said  I^apoleon,  rubbing  his  hands, 
"  if  there  now  were  a  Calypso  here,  one  would  have 
to  pull  you  by  the  ears  to  get  you,  like  the  son  of 
Ulysses,  back  to  Ithaca.  The  truth  is,  I  have  spoiled 
the  whole  of  you.  I  have  let  you  see  too  many  coun- 
tries and  have  accustomed  you  to  such  a  moving  exis- 
tence, that  you  are  not  able  to  enjoy  a  philosophic 
repose."  Then  turning  to  some  officers  who  stood  by, 
he  said,  "  Allons,  Messieurs,  if  you  are  wise,  per- 
haps I  will  let  3'ou  make  some  time  a  tour  in 
France."  But  perceiving  he  had  said  too  much,  he 
pressed  his  lips  together,  and  forcing  a  pinch  of  snuff 
violently  up  his  nose,  abruptly  changed  the  conver- 
sation. 

EETURN   OF   NAPOLEON    AND    HIS    GUARD   TO   FRANCE. 

On  the  26th  of  February,  1815,  Col.  Laborde  re- 
ceived orders  from  Drouot  to  let  all  the  laborers  in 
the  gardens  of  the  officers  continue  their  work  till 
three  o'clock — at  four  to  give  the  troops  soup,  and  im- 
mediately after  assemble  them.  At  five  they  were 
to  embark  in  ships  prepared  for  their  reception.  The 
Colonel  enquired  where  they  were  going. 

"  I  can  tell  you  nothing,"  he  replied,  "  execute  the 
orders  I  have  given  you." 

This  being  accomplished,  Napoleon,  after  bidding 


napoleon's  return.  237 

his  mother  and  sister  Pauline  adien,  went  on  board  the 
brig  of  war  Inconstant,  and  with  three  hundred  of 
his  Guard,  put  to  sea.  The  rest  of  the  Guard  and 
troops,  in  all  some  six  or  seven  hundred  men,  fol- 
lowed in  several  transports.  When  fairly  out  to  sea, 
IS'apoleon  walked  into  the  midst  of  his  Guard,  and 
said, "  Soldiers  and  officers  of  my  Gicard^  we  are  going 
to  Francey  Loud  shouts  of  "  Vive  VEr)ijpereuT^'' 
answered  him,  and  all  was  enthusiasm  and  joy. 

Only  one  vessel  hailed  them  on  the  way,  the  cap- 
tain of  which  asked  if  they  had  come  from  Elba. 
Being  answered  in  the  affirmative,  he  inquired  how 
Napoleon  was.  The  Emperor  having  ordered  the 
Guard  to  lie  flat  on  deck  so  as  to  prevent  discovery, 
himself  replied,  "  il  se  porte  a  raerveilleP  The  brig 
suspecting  nothing  passed  along,  and  on  the  first  of 
March ,  Kapoleon  reached  the  coast  of  France.  Drouot 
immediately  landed  with  the  Old  Guard  and  des- 
patched a  captain  with  a  company  of  chasseurs  to  a 
garrison  at  Antibes  to  feel  the  pulse  of  the  soldiers. 
The  latter  was  taken  prisoner  with  all  his  company, 
and  two  officers  sent  to  demand  their  release  shared 
the  same  fate. 

Tliat  night  ISTapoleon  bivouacked  in  an  olive  field 
with  his  Old  Guard  around  him.  But  at  eleven 
o'clock  he  took  up  his  march  for  Grasse,  where  he 
arrived  at  eleven  in  the  morning.  The  soldiers 
were  in   a  state  of   the  highest  enthusiasm.     Na 


238  THE   OLD   GUAKDi 

poleon  had  promoted  every  one  of  them,  and  now,  ab 
they  saw  him  marching  in  their  midst  again,  they 
thought  of  the  glory  of  the  past,  and  belield  new 
fields  of  fame  in  the  future. 

The  triumphal  march  of  ITapoleon  with  that  little 
band  of  less  than  a  thousand  men  from  Cannes  to 
Paris  is  well  known.  Fortified  towns  and  cities  opened 
their  gates  to  him  ;  troops  sent  forward  to  capture 
him,  shouted  "  Vive  V  Emperev/r^^''  as  they  caught 
sight  again  of  the  form  of  their  old  commander ; 
ofiicers  and  generals  were  swept  away  in  the  wild 
enthusiasm  that  increased  as  he  advanced  towards 
Paris,  and  borne  along  on  the  swelling  heart  of  the 
nation,  he  entered  his  capital,  and  without  firing  a 
shot  sat  down  on  his  recovered  throne.  The  city  was 
delirious  with  joy,  and  never  in  the  height  of  his 
power  did  Kapoleon  receive  such  marks  of  unbounded 
devotion. 

In  his  proclamation  issued  at  Grenoble,  calling  on 
the  soldiers  to  rally  to  his  standard,  who,  he  said, 
"  had  elevated  him  on  their  bucklers  to  the  throne,'^ 
he  declared  that  "  victory  would  march  at  the  pas 
de  charge^  the  eagle  fly  with  the  national  colors  from 
steeple  to  steeple  till  it  lighted  on  the  towers  of  Notre 
Dame."  His  prediction  proved  true.  Victory  had 
gone  at  the  charge  step,  and  the  eagle  flown  from 
steeple  to  steeple  in  triumph. 

The  next  day  after  his  triumphal  entrance  into  the 


ITS    AKRIVAL    IN    PARIS.  239 

city,  the  Old  Guard  arrived  by  post  from  Lyons.  As 
the  Emperor  approached  Paris,  the  news  of  the  recep 
tion  tliat  waited  him,  made  him  precipitate  his  ad- 
vance, and  the  Old  Guard  was  left  behind.  But  now 
as  these  few  hundred  veterans,  whose  worn  shoes  and 
tattered  garments  testified  to  their  rapid  and  fatiguing 
march  across  France,  came  thundering  into  the  city 
in  carriages,  long  and  deafening  shouts  rent  the  air. 
They  had  been  the  companions  of  their  Emperor  in 
his  exile ;  the  iron  band  on  which  he  had  relied  in 
his  daring  descent  on  France ;  they  seemed  a  part 
of  him,  and  hence  were  objects  of  almost  equal 
enthusiasm. 

During  the  day,  Napoleon  had  a  grand  review  of 
all  the  troops  in  Paris.  After  it  was  over,  he  formed 
them  into  a  square  and  addressed  them.  The  accla- 
mations tl^t  succeeded  had  scarcely  died  away,  when 
a  column  of  strange  troops  were  seen  advancing  up 
the  Place  du  Carrousel.  As  they  approached  with  their 
standard  in  tatters,  but  carrying  the  eagles  of  the  Old 
Guard,  the  army  saw  it  was  the  sacred  battalion 
that  had  accompanied  Napoleon  from  Elba,  and  had 
just  arrived  by  post  from  Lyons.  As  these  veterans 
drew  near,  the  drums  throuo^hout  rolled  forth  a  thun- 
dering  salute,  and  banners  waved,  and  swords  shook 
in  the  air,  and  frantic  hurrahs  ai'ose  on  every  side. 

Napoleon  with  a  gesture  of  the  hand  having  silenced 
the  tumult,  exclaimed,  "  Behold  the  battalion  which 


240  THE   OLD   GUARQ. 

accompanied  me  in  my  misfortune.  They  are  all  m^ 
friends,  and  they  have  been  dear  to  my  heart.  Every 
time  that  I  saw  them  they  reminded  me  of  the  differ- 
ent regiments  of  the  army,  for  among  these  six  hun- 
dred braves  there  are  men  from  all  the  regiments. 
They  recalled  to  me  the  grand  achievements,  the  mem- 
or}'^  of  which  is  so  dear,  for  they  are  all  covered  with 
honorable  scars  received  in  those  memorable  battles. 
In  loving  them,  I  love  you  all,  soldiers  of  the  French 
army.  They  bring  back  to  you  the  eagles.  In  giv- 
ing them  to  the  Guai'd,  1  give  them  to  the  whole 
array.  Ti-eason  and  misfortune  had  covered  them 
with  a  mournful  veil,  but  they  now  reappear  resplen- 
dent in  their  old  glory.  Swear  to  me  that  these  eagles 
shall  always  be  found  where  the  welfare  of  the  coun- 
try calls  them,  and  then  those  who  would  invade  our 
soil  will  not  be  able  to  meet  their  glance."  "  We 
swear  it,  we  swear  it,"  was  repeated  in  prolonged 
echoes  on  every  side. 

On  the  very  day  of  his  arrival  !N"apoleon  reorgan- 
ized the  Old  Guard  by  a  decree  in  which  it  was  speci- 
fied that  no  one  should  be  admitted  in  it  but  "  those 
who  had  served  in  the  French  army."  Among  the 
officers  that  were  appointed  to  command  it,  Droupt 
took  his  old  place,  the  brave  Friant  commanded  the 
foot  grenadiers,  Morand  the  foot  chasseurs,  Guyot 
the  mounted  grenadiers,  and  Lefebvre  Desnouettes 
the   mounted  chasseurs.     These   had  been  tried   on 


THE    GUARD    REORGANIZED.  2il 

maii}^  a  field  of  fire  and  blood,  and  could  be  trusted. 
Still  the  Guard  was  formed  in  great  haste,  and  though 
it  had  been  augmented  to  40,000,  only  a  part  of  them 
possessed  the  character  of  the  troops  that  formerly  com- 
posed it.  This  was  soon  seen  in  the  lax  discipline 
that  was  maintained. 

The  allies  knowing  that  every  day  given  to  Napo- 
leon multiplied  his  resources,  began  immediately  to 
pour  vast  armies  towards  the  French  borders.  'Not 
willing  to  let  the  French  people  choose  their  own 
ruler,  they,  without  ofiering  any  terms  of  peace,  de- 
liberately resolved  to  deluge  Europe  in  blood  again, 
to  keep  a  Bourbon  on  the  throne. 

The  history  of  the  "  hundred  days,"  in  which  Ka- 
poleon  raised  an  army  of  nearly  400,000  men  ana 
took  the  field  in  the  almost  hopeless  struggle  against 
such  immense  forces  as  were  pledged  to  his  over- 
throw, is  well  known.  In  a  letter  to  the  allies,  he 
begged  them  earnestly  not  to  disturb  the  peace  of 
Europe.  After  defending  his  course  in  ascending 
the  throne  of  France  on  the  ground  that  the  Bour- 
bons were  not  fitted  for  the  French  people,  and  stating 
how  he  had  been  borne  on  their  hearts  to  the  caj^ital, 
he  used  the  following  noble  language,  "  The  first 
wish  of  my  heart  is  to  repay  so  much  affection  by  an 
honorable  tranquillity.  My  sweetest  hope  is  to  render 
the  re-estaWishment  of  the  Imperial  throne  a  guaran- 
tee for  the  peace  of  Europe.  Enough  of  glory  has 
11 


242  THE   OLD   GUARD. 

illustrated  in  their  turn  the  standards  of  all  nations , 
the  vicissitudes  of  fate  have  sufficiently  often  made 
great  reverses  follow  the  most  glorious  success.  A 
nobler  arena  is  now  opened  to  sovereigns.  I  will  be 
the  first  to  descend  into  it.  After  having  exhibited 
to  the  world  the  spectacle  of  great  combating,  it  will 
now  be  sweeter  to  exhibit  henceforth  no  other  rivalry 
but  that  of  the  advantage  of  peace — no  other  strife 
but  that  of  the  felicity  of  nations."  To  this  appeal 
the  allied  sovereigns  deigned  not  even  a  reply.  This 
plebeian  who  had  covered  them  with  confusion, 
should  not  rule  the  people  that  loved  him,  so  they 
struck  hands  together,  Austria,  Prussia,  Russia,  and 
agreed  to  furnish  a  hundred  and  eighty  thousand 
men  each,  to  carry  on  the  war.  Over  seven  hundred 
thousand  men  were  to  be  banded  against  ISTapoleon. 
The  contest,  of  course,  was  desperate,  for  France  could 
not  always  keep  at  bay  the  whole  of  Europe  in  arms. 
And  yet  writers  never  tire  of  putting  on  Napoleon 
the  crime  of  the  carnage  of  Waterloo — a  battle  he 
did  not  wish  to  fight.  He  was  not  prepared  for  hos- 
tilities, but  was  forced  into  them  by  those  who  after 
the  field  was  heaped  with  the  dead  and  Europe  filled 
with  mourning,  turned  round  and  pointed  at  him, 
exclaiming,  what  a  monster !  A  monster  for  strug- 
gling with  almost  superhuman  energy  to  prevent  the 
invasion  of  his  country  by  enemies  whose  only  excuse 
was,  they  did  not  wish  I^apoleon  to  occupy  the  throne 


LIGNY. 


243 


of  France.  Against  Russia,  Prussia,  Austria,  and 
England,  does  the  blood  from  Waterloo  cj-j  out  for 
vengeance.'^  Nay,  more,  the  slaughter  that  soon  fol- 
lowed in  the  streets  of  Paris  in  the  effort  to  get  rid 
of  this  very  sovereign  they  forced  on  France,  lies 
at  their  doors.  Already  is  Europe  reaping  the  reward 
of  her  deeds,  but  the  day  of  final  reckoning  has  not 
yet  come. 

The  old  officers  of  the  army  and  even  the  soldiers 
of  the  Guard  looked  upon  the  contest  with  dismay, 
but  the  younger  officers  and  men,  dreaming  of 
Austerlitz,  Friedland,  and  Wagram,  were  filled  with 
enthusiasm.  But  though  the  old  veterans  looked 
grave  and  thoughtful,  they  determined  to  battle 
bravely  for  victory,  and  if  it  could  not  be  won,  to  die 
on  the  field  of  honor. 

On  the  7th  of  June  Napoleon  set  out  for  head- 
quarters, and  a  few  days  after,  at  the  head  of  a  hun- 
dred and  fifty  thousand  men,  boldly  threw  himself 
between  Blucher  and  Wellington.  He  fell  on  the 
former  at  Ligny,  and  defeated  him  with  the  loss  of 
fifteen  thousand  men.  Drouot's  artillery,  with  the 
columns  of  the  Old  Guard,  moved  against  the  centre 
of  the  Prussian  army  as  of  old,  and  pressing  on  over 

*  These  nations  marched  on  France  for  precisely  the  same  reasons 
Russia  invaded  Hungary  and  prostrated  its  government.  No  nation 
m  Europe  can  advance  a  step  in  civil  freedom,  without  bringing  down 
npon  itself  the  banded  armies  of  the  despotisms  that  surround  it. 


244  THE    OLD   GUARD. 

batteries  and  through  clouds  of  cavahy,  swept  the 
iield. 

This  admirable  piece  of  strategy  by  which  Napo- 
leon separated  the  Prussian  and  English  army,  under 
ordinary  circumstances  would  have  secured  him  the 
campaign.  Wellington  had  been  completely  ou^gen- 
eralled,  and  Napoleon  never  was  more  sure  of  victory 
than  when  he  heard  that  his  antagonist  had  retreated 
to  Waterloo.  There  is  no  doubt  there  were  traitors  in 
his  staff,  for  the  despatch  he  sent  Grouchy  during  the 
night,  never  reached  him,  while,  in  all  probability,  it 
fell  into  the  hands  of  Blucher.  But,  notwithstanding 
all  this,  had  it  not  been  for  the  heavy  rain  the  night 
before  rendering  the  ground  too  soft  for  artillery  and 
cavalry  to  manoeuvre,  so  that  the  attack  was  necessa- 
rily delayed,  Napoleon  would  inevitably  have  beaten 
Wellington  before  Blucher  could  have  arrived. 

CHARGE  OF  THE  OLD  GUARD  AT  WATERLOO. 

Although  1  have  this  charge  in  an  .tlier  work  yet 
being  the  last  act  in  its  history,  the  closing  up  of  its 
long  and  brilliant  career,  I  will  venture  here  to  repeat 
it,  giving  some  additional  details. 

During  the  day  the  •  artillery  of  the  Guard,  under 
Drouot,  maintained  its  old  renown,  and  the  Guard 
itself  had  frequently  been  used  to  restore  the  battle 
in  various  parts  of  the  field,  and  always  with  success 
The  English  were  fast  becoming  exhausted,  and  in 


CHARGE    AT    WATERLOO.  345 

an  hour  more  would  doubtless  have  been  forced  into 
a  disastrous  retreat,  but  for  the  timely  arrival  of 
Blucher.  But  when  they  saw  him  with  his  30,000 
Prussians  approaching,  their  courage  revived,  while 
Napoleon  was  filled  with  amazement.  A  beaten 
enemy  was  about  to  form  a  junction  with  the  allies, 
while  Grouchy,  who  had  been  sent  to  keep  him  in 
check,  was  nowhere  to  be  seen.  Alas,  what  great 
plans  a  single  inefficient  commander  <i;an  overthrow. 

In  a  moment  Napoleon  saw  that  he  could  not  sus- 
tain the  attack  of  so  many  fresh  troops  if  once 
allowed  to  form  a  junction  with  the  allied  forces,  and 
he  determined  to  stake  his  fate  on  one  bold  cast  and 
endeavor  to  pierce  the  allied  centre  with  a  grand 
charge  of  the  Old  Guard,  and  thus  throw  himself 
between  the  two  armies.  For  this  purpose  the  Impe- 
rial Guard  was  called  up  and  divided  into  two  im- 
mense columns,  which  were  to  meet  in  the  British 
centre.  Those  under  Reille  no  sooner  entered  the 
fire  than  it  disappeared  like  mist.  The  other  was 
placed  under  Ney,  "  the  bravest  of  the  brave,"  and 
the  order  to  advance  given.  Napoleon  accompanied 
them  part  way  down  the  slope,  and  halting  for  a 
moment  in  a  hollow,  addressed  them  a  few  words. 
He  told  them  the  battle  rested  with  them,  and  that 
he  relied  on  their  valor  tried  in  so  many  fields 
"  Yi/ve  V  JEmpereur^^'^  answered  him  with  a  shout  that 
was  heard  above  the  thunder  of  ai-tillery. 


9.4:6  THE   OLD    GUARD.* 

The  whole  continental  struggle  exhibits  no  subliiner 
spectacle  than  this  last  effort  of  Napoleon  to  save  his 
sinking  empire.  The  greatest  military  energy  and 
skill  the  world  possessed  had  been  tasked  to  the 
utmost  during  the  day.  Thrones  were  tottering  on 
the  turbulent  field,  and  the  shadows  of  fugitive  kings 
flitted  through  the  smoke  of  battle.  Bonaparte's 
star  trembled  in  the  zenith — now  blazing  out  in  its 
ancient  splendor,  now  suddenly  paling  before  his 
anxious  eye.  At  last  he  staked  his  empire  on  one 
bold  throw.  The  intense  anxiety  with  which  he 
watched  the  advance  of  that  column,  and  the  terrible 
suspense  he  suffered  when  the  smoke  of  battle 
wrapped  it  from  sight,  and  the  utter  despair  of  his 
great  heart  when  the  curtain  lifted  over  a  fugitive  army 
and  the  despairing  shriek  rung  out,  "  The  Guard 
recoils^  the  Guard  recoils^''  make  us  for  a  moment  for- 
get all  the  carnage,  in  sympathy  with  his  distress. 

The  Old  Guard  felt  the  pressure  of  the  immense 
responsibility,  and  resolved  not  to  prove  unworthy  of 
the  great  trust  committed  to  its  care.  Nothing  could 
be  more  imposing  than  its  movement  to  the  assault. 
It  had  never  recoiled  before  a  human  foe,  and  the 
allied  forces  beheld  wjth  awe  its  firm  and  steady 
advance  to  the  final  charge.  For  a  moment  the  bat- 
teries stopped  playing,  and  the  firing  ceased  along 
the  British  lines  ;  as  without  the  beating  of  a  drum, 
or  a  bugle  note  to  cheer  their  steady  courage,  thej 


THE    GUiRD    RECOILS.  247 

moved  in  dead  silence  over  the  field.  Their  tread 
was  like  the  sound  of  muffled  thunder,  while  the 
dazzling  helmets  of  the  cuirassiers  flashed  long 
streams  of  light  behind  the  dark  and  terrible  mass 
that  swept  in  one  strong  wave  along.  The  stern  Drouot 
was  there  amid  his  guns,  and  on  every  brow  was 
written  the  unalterable  resolution  to  conquer  or  die. 
The  next  moment  the  artillery  opened,  and  the  head 
of  that  gallant  column  seemed  to  sink  into  the  earth. 
Rank  after  rank  went  down,  yet  they  neither  stopped 
nor  faltered.  Dissolving  squadrons,  and  whole  bat- 
talions disappearing  one  after  another  in  the  destruc- 
tive fire,  affected  not  their  steady  courage.  The  ranks 
closed  up  as  before,  and  each  treading  over  his  fallen 
comrade,  pressed  unflinchingly  on.  The  horse  which 
Ney  rode,  fell  under  him,  and  scarcely  had  he 
mounted  another  before  it  also  sunk  to  the  earth,  and 
so  another  and  another,  till  Jive  in  succession  had  been 
shot  under  him ;  then  with  his  drawn  sabre,  he 
marched  sternly  at  the  head  of  his  column.  In  vain 
did  the  artillery  hurl  its  storm  of  fire  and  lead  into 
that  living  mass.  Up  to  the  very  muzzles  they 
pressed,  and  driving  the  artillerymen  from  their 
pieces,  pushed  on  through  the  English  lines.  But 
just  as  the  victory  seemed  won,  a  file  of  soldiers  who 
had  lain  flat  on  the  ground  behind  a  low  ridge  of 
earth,  suddenly  rose  and  poured  a  volley  in  their 
very  faces.     Another  and  another  followed,  till  one 


348  THE   OLD   QUAICV- 

>)road  sheet  of  Hame  rolled  on  their  bosoms,  and 
in  such  a  fierce  and  unexpected  flow  that  they  stag- 
gered back  before  it.  Before  the  Guard  had  time 
to  rally  again  and  advance,  a  heavy  column  of  in- 
fantry fell  on  its  left  flank  in  close  and  deadly  vol- 
leys, causing  it  in  its  unsettled  state  to  swerve  to  the 
right.  At  that  instant  a  whole  brigade  of  cavalry 
thundered  on  the  right  flank,  and  penetrated  where 
cavalry  had  never  gone  before.  That  intrepid  Guard 
could  have  borne  up  against  the  unexpected  fire  from 
soldiers  they  did  not  see,  and  would  also  have  rolled 
back  the  infantry  that  had  boldly  charged  its  left 
flank,  but  the  cavalry  finished  the  disorder  into  which 
they  had  been  momentarily  thrown  and  broke  the 
shaken  ranks. before  they  had  time  to  reform,  and  the 
eagles  of  that  hitherto  invincible  Guard  were  pushed 
backward  down  the  slope.  It  was  then  that  the  army 
seized  with  despair  shrieked  out,  "  The  Guard  recoils^ 
the  Guard  recoils^''  and  turned  and  fled  in  wild  dis- 
may. To  see  the  Guard  in  confusion,  was  a  sight 
they  had  never  before  beheld,  and  it  froze  every  heart 
with  terror.  Still  those  veterans  refused  to  fly  ;  ral- 
lying from  their  disorder  they  formed  into  two  im- 
mense squares  of  eight  battalions  and  turned  fiercely 
•>n  the  enemy,  and  nobly  strove  to  stem  the  reversed 
tide  of  battle.  For  a  long  time  they  stood  and  let 
the  cannon  balls  plough  through  their  ranks,  disdain 
ing  to  turn  their  backs  to  the  foe.    Michel,  at  the  head 


ITS    LAST    BATTLE.  249 

of  those  brave  battalions,  fought  like  a  lion.  To  every 
command  of  the  enemy  to  surreiider,  he  replied, 
''  The  Guard  dies^  it  never  surrenders^''  and  with  his 
last  breath  bequeathing  this  glorious  motto  to  the 
Guard,  he  fell  a  witness  to  its  truth.  Death  traversed 
those  eight  battalions  with  such  a  rapid  footstep,  that 
they  soon  dwindled  to  two,  which  turned  in  hopeless 
daring  on  the  overwhelming  numbers  that  pressed 
their  retiring  footsteps.  Last  of  all  but  a  single  bat- 
talion, the  debris  of  the  '*  column  of  granite  "  at  Ma- 
rengo, was  left.  Into  this  ISTapoleon  flung  himself. 
Cambronne,  its  brave  commander,  saw  with  terror  the 
Emperor  in  its  frail  keeping.  He  was  not  struggling 
for  victory,  he  was  intent  only  on  showing  how  the 
Guard  should  die.  Approaching  the  Emperor,  he 
cried  out,  "  Retire^  do  you  not  see  that  death  has  no 
needofyouT'^  and  closing  mournfully  yet  sternly  round 
their  expiring  eagles,  those  brave  hearts  bade  Napo- 
eon  an  eternal  adieu,  and  flinging  themselves  on  the 
enemy,  were  soon  piled  with  the  dead  at  their  feet. 

Many  of  the  ofiicers  were  seen  to  destroy  them- 
selves rather  than  survive  defeat.  Thus,  greater  in 
its  only  defeat  than  any  other  corps  of  men  in  gaining 
a  victory,  the  Old  Guard  passed  from  the  stage,  and 
the  curtain  dropped  upon  its  strange  career.  It  had 
fought  its  last  battle. 

No  one  can  contemplate  this  termination  of  its  his- 
tory without  the  profoundest  emotion.  The  greatness 
11^ 


250  THE    OLD   GUARD.  , 

of  its  deeds  and  the  grandeur  of  its  character,  endeui 
it  to  all  who  love  heroic  action  and  noble  achieve- 
ments ;  and  as  one  runs  back  in  imagination,  over  its 
terrible  campaigns,  it  is  with  the  deepest  sorrow  he 
is  compelled  to  bid  it  farewell  on  the  fatal  field  of 
"Waterloo. 

But  there  is  one  aspect  in  which  the  Old  Guard  is 
not  generally  viewed — it  did  as  much  for  human  lib- 
erty as  any  army,  from  that  of  Gustavus  Adolphus, 
down.  I  do  not  pretend  to  say  how  much  the  troops 
were  governed  by  this  motive — how  many,  or  how 
few,  fought  solely  for  glory,  but  that  Old  Guard 
never  made  a  charge,  with  the  exception  of  the  last, 
that  did  not  give  an  impulse  to  human  liberty.  Every 
time  it  broke  the  ranks  of  the  despots  of  Europe, 
armed  against  the  free  principles  working  in  France, 
it  wrenched  a  fetter  from  the  human  mind.  In  short, 
it  carried  the  liberty  of  Europe  on  the  j^oints  of  its 
sabres.  The  wild  waking  up  during  the  last  few 
years  is  the  working  of  the  leaven  of  French  princi- 
ples, or  rather  I  should  say  of  Ainericcm  principles, 
sown  by  French  hands.  All  honor,  then,  to  the  Old 
Guard  for  breaking  up  the  iron  frame-work  of  feudal- 
ism which  had  rusted  so  long  in  its  place,  that  nothing 
but  a  stroke  that  should  heave  and  rend  everything 
asunder  could  affect  its  firmness. 

As  I  said  before,  I  do  not  ascribe  the  same  motives  to 
the  Old  Guard  that  existed  in  the  hearts  of  the  sol 


FIGHTS    FOR   LIBERTY.  251 

diers  of  the  American  army  or  Cromwell's  troops 
Still  they  err  much,  wl)0  deriving  their  ideas  from 
English  history,  suppose  that  they  had  no  definite 
idea  of  tlie  struggle  tliey  were  engaged  in.  The  very 
fact  that  I^apoleon  cloaked  his  occupation  of  the  Tuil- 
eries  by  calling  on  his  Guard  to  wear  cra]3e  for  Wash- 
ington, "  who,  like  themselves,  had  fought  against 
tyranny,"  shows  how  strongly  rooted  republican  prin- 
ciples were  in  their  hearts.  They  knew  that  hostili- 
ties were  first  commenced  by  the  allied  powers  for 
the  sole  and  undisguised  purpose  of  destroying  the 
French  republic,  and  crushing  the  principles  of  free- 
dom. They  also  well  knew  that  the  tremendous 
combinations  that  were  constantly  formed  against 
France  had  no  other  object  than  to  defend  feudalism 
and  establish  the  old  order  of  things.  All  this  the 
commonest  soldier  knew  and  talked  about  in  his 
bivouac.  The  troops  often  stormed  over  intrench- 
ments  singing  republican  songs. 

The  continental  monarchs  also  well  understood  the 
struggle,  and  foresaw  what  has  since  occurred — the 
uprising  of  the  people,  and  the  humiliation  of  royalty. 
The  general,  it  is  true,  had  become  Emperor,  but 
the  code  he  gave  the  people  bestowed  on  them  all  the 
freedom  they  knew  how  to  use  with  safety  to  the 
government.  Every  proclamation  Napoleon  made  to  a 
conquered  state,  every  change  he  proposed  to  a  gov- 
ernment, was  an  immense  stride  in  the  onward  march 


252  THE   OLD   GUARD.' 

of  civil  liberty.  It  was  on  this  account  his  overthrow 
was  sought  with  suf  h  eagerness.  "While  he  occupied 
the  throne  the  old  s  ^der  of  things  threatened  momen 
tarily  to  disapjp^av 


CHAPTEK  XlII. 

TllF    GUARD   AFTER   THE   BATTLE   OF   WATERLOO. 

ktsrageat  the  surrender  of  Paris— Is  disbanded — Part  come  to  America — Chfitaf 
d'Asile  in  Texaa— Last  of  the  Guards — Tomb  of  Napoleon. 

The  remains  of  the  French  array  after  the  battle 
of  Waterloo,  fell  back  toward  Paris  whither  the  allies 
were  already  marching.  The  debris  of  the  Old 
Guard  were  stationed  in  the  environs  to  impose  on 
the  enemy,  for  the  general  belief  was  that  the  city 
would  be  defended.  Since  its  last  capture  it  had 
been  strongly  fortified  and  could  now  make  a  firm 
resistance.  But  the  rout  of  the  Old  Guard  had  dis- 
couraged Paris  more  than  the  destruction  of  two 
armies  would  have  done.  The  two  chambers  were 
thrown  into  the  greatest  agitation.  Lafayette,  in  the 
Chamber  of  Deputies,  ofi*ered  a  resolution  calling  on 
Napoleon  to  abdicate.     At  first  the  latter  could  not 


254  THK    OLD    GUARD,. 

believe  it  would  endeavor  to  dethrone  him,  but  all 
men  saw  that  France  must  wage  an  endless  war,  if 
she  retained  Napoleon,  for  nothing  short  of  his  over- 
tl)row  would  satisfy  the  allies.  It  was  to  gratify  the 
wish  of  a  disheartened  nation  that  he  finally  con- 
sented  to  abdicate  in  favor  of  his  son  Napoleon  II. 
But  the  army  did  not  view  things  in  the  same  way. 

Two  regiments  of  the  Guard  followed  by  a  vast 
multitude,  passed  under  the  terrace  of  Elysee  Bour- 
bon, where  Napoleon  was,  demanding  with  loud 
cries  that  their  Emperor  should  put  himself  at  their 
head,  and  conduct  them  against  the  enemy.  Napo- 
leon harangued  them,  urging  them  to  quietness.  An 
orator  of  the  populace  in  replying  to  him  mentioned 
the  18th  Brumaire.  The  Emperor  interrupting  him, 
exclaimed,  "You  recall  to  my  remembrance  the  18th 
Brumaire,  but  you  forget  that  the  circumstances  are 
not  the  same.  On  the  18th  Brumaire,  the  nation  was 
unanimous  in  its  desire  of  a  change.  A  feeble  effort 
only  was  necessary  to  effect  what  they  so  much  de 
sired.  Now  it  would  require  oceans  of  French  blood, 
and  never  shall  a  single  drop  he  shed  hy  me  in  the 
defence  of  a  cause  altogether  personal^  Singular 
language  for  a  tyrant.  After  all  had  dispersed,  Mon- 
tholon,  who  gives  this  account,  expostulated  with  the 
Emperor  for  having  arrested  the  hand  of  the  people, 
strong  enough  in  itself  to  save  the  capital  from  the 
enemy  and  punish  the  traitors  who  were  negotiating 


NAPOLEOIy'S    RESOLUTION.  tibb 

to  deliver  it  up.  Kapoleon  replied  in  these  words, 
wliicli  should  be  written  in  gold,  and  are  sufficient  oi 
themselves  to  repel  half  the  slanders  his  enemies 
have  uttered  against  him.  Note,  he  was  speaking  to 
an  intimate  friend  in  all  the  frankness  of  private 
intercourse.  "  Putting  the  brute  force  of  the  people,- ' 
said  he,  "into  action,  would  doubtless  save  Paris  and 
insure  me  the  crown  without  incurring  the  horrors  of 
civil  war,  but  it  would  likewise  be  risking  thousands 
of  French  lives,  for  what  power  could  control  so  many 
various  passions,  so  much  hatred,  and  such  vengeance ! 
No,  there  is  one  thing  you  see  I  cannot  forget,  it  is, 
that  I  have  been  escorted  from  Cannes  to  Paris  amid 
the  bloody  cries  of  down  with  the  priests  !  down  with 
the  nobles  !  JVo,  Hike  the  regrets  of  Fromce  hetter 
than  her  crownP 

Noble  words,  uttered  in  a  moment  when  his  crown 
was  leaving  him,  and  nothing  but  the  sad  fate  of  an 
exile  before  him.  The  crown  glittering  on  the  one 
liand,  together  with  the  prospoct  of  punishing  his 
foes,  banishment  and  disgrace  on  the  other,  and  yet 
to  say,  "  I  like  the  regrets  of  France  hetter  than  her 
orown''' — to  say  it  too,  when  the  saying  was  the 
doing^  was  the  noblest  proof  that  could  be  given  of 
the  truth  he  uttered.  How  strange  it  must  sound 
to  those  who  have  contemplated  him  only  by  the  light 
or  rather  darkness  of  English  history,  to  hear  this 
man  whom  they  have  regarded  as  a  monster  of  cruelty^ 


256  THE    OLD    GUAErr. 

wading  through  seas  of  blood,  refusing  to  save  his 
crown,  because  in  doing  it,  he  must  turn  Frenchmen 
against  Frenchmen.  Ah,  not  one  of  his  kingly  foes 
would  have  done  this — not  one  was  ever  heard  to 
utter  so  noble  a  sentiment. 

J^apoleon  having  retired  to  Malmaison,  General 
Beker  was  sent  by  the  provisionary  government  to 
hasten  his  departure  to  America.  While  talking  with 
him,  the  former  asked,  "  Well,  what  are  they  saying 
and  doing  at  Paris  ?"  He  replied,  that  opinions  were 
very  much  divided  about  his  abdication,  "  but  the 
remnants  of  the  army  have  remained  faithful  to  you, 
and  are  assembled  under  the  walls  of  the  capital.  A 
great  proportion  of  the  citizens  and  the  whole  people 
of  Paris  seem  determined  to  defend  themselves,  and 
if  a  powerful  hand  could  rally  all  these  elements  to  a 
last  effort,  nothing  would  be  hopeless  perhaps."  This 
plain  hint  thrown  out  by  one  who  was  sent  to  be  his 
keeper,  was  lost  on  him,  and  he  enquired  only  for  his 
passports. 

True  enough  the  "  lemnants  of  the  army  were  as- 
sembled under  the  walls  of  the  capital,"  and  there 
too,  was  the  remnant  of  the  Guard,  still  nearly 
twenty-six  thousand  strong,  and  filled  with  indigna- 
tion at  the  decision  to  surrender  Paris  to  the  enemy. 
Officers  and  soldiers  cried  out  treason,  and  uttered 
threats  of  vengeance.  And  when  the  order  came  to 
the  battalions  to  abandon  their  post,  they  relused  U 


ANGEK    OF    THE    GUARD.  257 

obey.  The  old  grenadiers  broke  their  muskets  and 
tore  off  their  nniform,  and  cursed  the  authors  of  this 
great  disgrace.  Paris  had  fallen  a  year  before,  but 
had  they  been  in  its  walls,  the  foot  of  the  stranger 
would  not  have  polluted  its  streets.  So  they  and 
every  one  else  had  believed,  and  now  to  surrender  it 
without  striking  a  blow  was  a  double  disgrace,  and 
an  insult  to  their  bravery.  Several  officers  protested 
against  the  capitulation,  while  the  old  veterans  swore 
that  before  quitting  the  capital,  they,  at  least,  would 
take  vengeance  on  the  traitors,  and  thus  do  one  act 
of  justice.  Frightened  at  the  terrible  aspect  of  these 
veterans,  who  were  not  yet  humbled  so  low  they  could 
not  strike  boldly  for  their  country,  the  generals  of  the 
army  and  the  authorities  prevailed  on  the  favorite 
commanders  of  the  Guard  to  intercede.  Docile  at 
the  voice  of  their  beloved  Drouot  and  other  favorite 
chiefs,  they  bowed  in  resignation.  Being  ordered 
beyond  the  Loire,  where  its  tomb  had  already  been 
prepared,  it  took  up  its  sorrowful  march.  The  bear- 
ing of  all  was  mournful,  but  calm  and  resigned. 
Still  the  government  was  in  constant  terror  lest  'Na- 
poleon  might  again  put  himself  at  the  head  of  his 
ancient  braves,  and  sent  Beker  to  hurry  his  embar- 
cation. 

"While  these  things  were  passing  at  Paris,  Napo- 
leon was  still  at  Malmaison,  delaying  his  departure 
till  the  last  moment.     One  morning,  just  before  he 


258  TIIK   OLD    GUARD.' 

was  to  set  out,  he  was  aroused  by  thundering  shouts 
of  "  Vive  V  Emjpereur^  dmjon  with  the  Bourbons^ 
down  with  the  traitors^''  They  arose  from  Bruyer's 
division  which  was  returning  from  Yendee,  where  it 
had  been  stationed  during  the  fatal  Belgian  cam 
paign.  The  soldiers  had  halted  before  the  chateau 
refusing  to  take  another  step  until  the  Emperor  was 
at  their  head.  The  officers  were  compelled  to  sub- 
mit, and  General  Bruyer  went  in  and  asked  to  see 
l^apoleon.  Montholon  went  in  search  of  him,  and 
found  him  in  the  library  sitting  by  the  window  with 
his  feet  on  the  window  sill,  quietly  reading  Mon- 
taigne. While  France  was  shaking  to  its  centre,  and 
his  imperial  crown  lay  broken  at  his  feet,  and  the 
wrecks  of  his  vast  empire  strewed  the  continent,  and 
a  desolate  future  stretched  before  him,  he  could  com- 
pose himself  and  sit  down  quietly  to  his  book,  as  if 
there  was  nothing  to  disturb  the  equanimity  of  his 
feelings. 

General  Bruyer  was  admitted,  and  in  a  quarter  of 
an  hour  the  army  was  on  its  march  for  Paris,  shout- 
ing "  Yive  V  Emjpereur^'^  in  the  full  belief  they  should 
soon  follow  Napoleon  to  the  field  of  battle. 

Soon  after,  he  sent  a  message  to  the  government 
offering  to  take  command  of  the  army  under  Napo- 
leon II.,  as  a  simple  general,  promising  after  he  had 
repulsed  the  enemy,  "to  go  to  the  United  States, 
there  to  fulfil  his  destiny."    In  it  he  gave  the  plan 


r^  a.poleon''s  ofb'p:r.  259 

he  was  to  adopt,  showed  how  feasible  it  was,  and 
guaranteed  that  in  a  few  days  he  would  drive  the 
enemy  beyond  the  frontiers  of  France,  and  "  avenge 
the  aisasters  of  Waterloo."  "  Eighty  thousand  men," 
he  said,  "  were  gathering  near  Paris,"  which  "  was 
thirty  thousand  more  than  he  had  in  the  cam- 
paign of  1814,  although  he  then  fought  three  months 
against  the  large  armies  of  Russia,  Austria,  and 
Prussia  ;  and  France  well  knew  that  he  would  have 
been  victorious  in  the  struggle  had  it  not  been  for  the 
capitulation  of  Paris.  It  was  moreover,  45,000  men 
more  than  General  Bonaparte  had  headed  when  he 
crossed  the  Alps  and  conquered  Italy."  The  govern- 
ment, instead  of  accepting  the  proposal,  was  terrified 
at  it,  and  urged  more  vehemently  than  ever,  his 
speedy  departure. 

Napoleon  had  not  the  slightest  doubt  his  proposi- 
tion would  be  accepted,  and  was  preparing  to  take 
horse  and  join  the  army,  when  the  refusal  was  brought 
him.  Without  exhibiting  the  least  emotion,  calm 
and  serene  as  ever,  he  simply  said,  "  Those  people 
do  not  know  the  state  of  public  opinion  when  they 
refuse  my  proposal ;  they  will  repent  it,"  and  added, 
"  Give  the  necessary  orders  then  for  my  departure, 
and  as  soon  as  everything  is  ready,  let  me  know," 
ai^  in  an  hour  after,  he  was  hurrying  toward  the 
a<«a   shor )     "  His  forehead   at  this   moment,"  says 


260  THE    OLD    GUAKIk 

Montholon,  "was  sublime  in  its  calmness  and  se> 
renity." 

Alojig  the  whole  route  to  Rochefort,  and  after  he 
arrived  there,  he  was  saluted  with  loud  acclamations, 
and  "  Vive  V  Eiwpereur^'^  heralded  him  to  the  coast 
where  he  committed  the  fatal  mistake  of  trusting  to 
the  honor  of  the  English  government.  He  thought 
a  great  nation,  like  a  great  man,  would  be  magnani- 
mous, but  discovered  too  late  his  error.  Yet  he  was 
avenged  on  her,  for  the  slow  death  and  petty  tor- 
ture she  inflicted  upon  him,  lias  covered  the  laurels 
she  won  at  Waterloo,  with  ashes. 

In  the  meantime,  the  Old  Guard  had  constantly 
urged  E'apoleon  through  messengers  to  put  himself 
again  at  their  head.  They  had  followed  him  with 
their  earnest  request  even  to  the  sea-shore,  but  he 
steadily  refused.  Following  quickly  on  the  steps  of 
this,  came  the  order  to  disband  the  Guard.  The  sol- 
diers were  to  be  unmolested,  but  the  officers  who  had 
served  in  the  last  campaign,  were  declared  to  be 
incapacitated  to  receive  any  title  or  to  form  a  part  of 
the  new  army  about  to  be  organised.  ITever  before 
did  a  government  give  its  own  army  so  rude  a  blow. 
It  might  have  been  expected  from  an  enemy,  but  for 
a  corps  that  had  covered  France  with  glory  and  lifted 
her  to  an  eminence  she  had  never  before  reached, 
that  had  shed  its  blood  freelj  for  her  protection,  to  b« 


THE    GUA.KD    DISBANDED.  263 

SO  disgraced  by  France  itself,  shows  that  the  govern 
merit  was  unworthy  of  such  a  noble  phalanx. 

Not  content  with  executing  this  contemptible  act, 
no  sooner  was  the  disbanding  effected,  than  it  com- 
menced its  proscription,  and  the  superior  officers  were 
dragged  before  military  commissioners.  ITey,  who 
led  the  last  charge  of  the  Old  Guard,  was  publicly 
shot  in  violation  of  a  sacred  promise  given  by  the  allies, 
that  he  should  be  safe.  At  length  the  hatred  of  the 
king  reached  the  inferior  officers  and  they  were  desig- 
nated "  brigands  of  the  Loire,"  and  were  forbidden  to 
show  themselves  in  Paris,  or  even  occupy  the  localities 
which  had  been  assigned  them  by  the  minister  of  w^ar. 
They  w^ere  hunted  like  deer  up  and  down,  and  if  one 
was  heard  to  express  the  least  regret  over  what  had 
been  done  or  recall  a  single  souvenir  of  their  ancient 
glory,  he  was  immediately  dragged  before  the  provost 
court  over  which  an  old  emigrant  presided. 

The  officers  finding  there  was  no  repose  for  them 
in  France,  sought  refuge  in  foreign  lands.  Some 
went  to  Turkey,  some  to  Greece,  and  others  to  differ- 
ent portions  of  the  continent,  where  they  were  well 
received  on  account  of  their  old  renown.  Some 
passed  over  to  England,  where  help  was  extended 
them  by  noble  men  who  sympathized  with  their  mis 
fortunes  and  honored  them  for  their  great  deeds. 
Thus  they  became  scattered  up  and  down  the  earth, 
seeking  a  livelihood  m  various  ways — many  who  had 


262  THE   OLD    GUARD, 

long  held  high  commands,  supporting  themselves  hy 
teaching  French.  The  officers  of  a  corps  composed 
of  26,000  men  made  a  little  army  by  themselves. 

CHAMP  d'asile. 

Many  of  the  proscribed  officers  went  to  Spanish 
America  and  served  in  the  war  against  Spain,  while 
others  came  to  the  United  States.  Among  these  lat- 
ter was  the  fiery  Lefebvre  Desnouettes,  who  had  so 
often  led  the  chasseurs  of  the  Guard  to  the  charge. 
Lallemand,  one  of  Kapoleon's  bravest  generals,  came 
here  also,  and  soon  perceived  that  if  these  old  warriors 
could  not  be  rallied  together  in  some  one  place,  their 
characters  would  degenerate,  and  the  French  name, 
honored  along  our  western  rivers,  sufier  disgrace.  A 
proscribed  and  exiled  soldier  descends  by  natural 
Bteps  to  the  rank  of  an  adventurer.  He  therefore 
planned  a  place  of  refuge  for  all,  to  be  called  the 
"  Oharnp  d'AsileP  He  finally  selected  a  spot  in  Texas, 
about  fifty  miles  above  the  mouth  of  Trinity  river. 
He  had  two  objects  in  view  in  this  ;  first,  to  have  a 
place  to  receive  those  officers  who  were  exiled  by  the 
government,  and  those  who  voluntarily  left  the  coun- 
try  to  escape  the  persecutions  they  were  subject  to 
from  the  Bourbon  dynasty,  and  in  the  second  place, 
to  establish  a  ^^ propagande  revolutionnaire^''  in  the 
bosom  of  Mexico,  or  a  society  for  the  dissemination 
of  free  principles  in  the  Spanish  provinces,  with  the 


mssmm 


DEPART UKE  OF  THE  GUARD.  268 

ultimate  design  of  freeing  Mexico  from  the  Spanish 
yoke. 

In  1817,  General  Lallernand,  who  had  commiini 
cated  to  Joseph  Bonaparte,  then  residing  in  Phila- 
delphia, his  plan,  assembled  the  officers  of  the  Guard, 
as  well  as  the  other  proscribed  officers  of  the  army 
in  that  city.  Having  explained  his  intentions  and 
expressed  his  hopes,  he  persuaded  by  his  eloquence 
nearly  all  the  inferior  officers  to  accompany  him. 
The  general  officers,  however,  thought  the  plan  chi- 
merical and  unwise,  and  refused  to  join  the  enterprise, 
with  the  exception  of  the  brave  Rigaud,  who  fell  in 
with  it. 

A  ship  was  freighted  with  provisions  for  four  or 
five  hundred  men,  and  six  pieces  of  artillery,  six  hun- 
dred muskets,  and  a  large  supply  of  powder.  Some 
days  before  their  departure,  Joseph  Bonaparte  gave 
to  the  more  needy  officers  a  sum  of  money  sufficient 
to  pay  the  debts  they  had  contracted  while  in  Phila- 
delphia. He  did  not  wish  the  officers  of  the  Old 
Guard,  those  who  had  shared  the  fortunes  and  renown 
of  his  imperial  brother,  and  borne  through  their  long 
and  glorious  career  so  lofty  a  character,  to  have  a  spot, 
however  slight,  on  their  names. 

The  expedition,  nearly  two  hundred  strong,  left 
Philadelphia  the  ITth  of  December,  at  seven  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  and  arrived  at  Galveston  island  tha 
18th  of  January.     Here  they  disembarked  to   wait 


264  ntK    OLD    GUARD. 

for  Lalleraand,  and  constructed  huts  of  reeds  and 
pieces  of  timber  thrown  ashore  from  shipwrecked 
vessels — surrounding  the  whole  with  a  fosse — to  pro- 
tect their  bivouac  from  the  attacks  of  savages.  On 
the  20th  of  March,  Lallemand  arrived  with  some 
sixty  more,  from  l^ew  Orleans.  Four  days  after,  they 
started  for  the  "  Ghmnp  d?  Asile^''  in  ten  large 
launches,  which  they  had  bought  of  a  pirate. 

The  "  Champ  d?  Asile^''  was  a  taking  name — it 
spoke  of  rest  and  quiet  after  the  troubled  and  wan- 
dering life  of  the  last  two  years,  but  the  spot  itself 
was  desolate  enough.  In  those  vast  solitudes  sur- 
rounded by  wild  beasts  and  rattlesnakes  and  implaca- 
ble Indians,  these  veteran  officers  of  the  Old  Guard 
were  to  make  themselves  a  home.  To  dishearten 
them  still  more,  the  fleet  of  boats  which  on  their 
arrival  they  had  sent  back  after  the  provisions,  re- 
mained absent  a  month. 

The  exiles,  however,  put  on  a  cheerful  countenance, 
and  commenced  their  organization.  Three  cohorts 
of  infantry,  cavalry,  and  artillery,  were  form9d  tc 
defend  the  colony  and  maintain  order,  while  fortifica- 
tions were  erected  to  protect  them  from  the  attacks 
of  the  Spaniards  and  Indians.  The  last  time  those 
officers  had  superintended  the  erection  of  fortifica- 
tions, was  on  some  great  battle-field  of  Europe  ;  now 
they  were  laboring  with  their  own  hands  in  the  wild? 
of  Texas.    Their  camp  was  guarded  with  the  same 


CHAMP  d'asile.  3^5 

torupulous  care  tliey  were  wont  to  guard  tlieii 
bivouac,  when  ]N"apoleon  was  in  their  midst.  Then 
all  were  officers,  while  now  all  but  a  few  ranked  as 
common  soldiers.  This  little  army  of  officers  spent 
a  good  deal  of  its  time  in  manoeuvring  and  military 
exercises. 

For  the  generals,  superior  officers,  and  women, 
large  huts  were  constructed,  but  all  the  others  bivou- 
acked as  they  did  in  Poland,  during  the  campaigns 
of  Eylau  and  Friedland,  eating  their  meals  from 
wooden  trenchers.  To  drive  away  wild  animals  an 
enormous  fire,  made  of  fallen  trees,  was  kept  con- 
stantly burning,  around  which,  at  all  hours  of  the 
day,  groups  of  veterans  could  be  seen  telling  stories 
of  the  past  and  awakening  the  memory  of  by-gone 
deeds  of  fame.  The  environs  of  the  fire  these  exiles 
jocosely  called  the  Palais  Royal^  and  those  who 
told  stories  and  related  adventures,  the  fops  that 
promenaded  it.  Lallemand  would  often  come  to 
this  "Palais  Royal,"  and  relate  conversations  he 
had  had  with  Kapoleon  in  the  closing  up  of  his 
career.  In  the  forests  of  Russia  and  in  many  a 
desolate  spot  those  exiles  had  ordered  just  such  a 
fire  built  in  the  midst  of  their  squares,  and  now 
as  they  recalled  those  scenes,  they  could  almost  see 
the  form  of  IS'apoleon  standing  before  it,  as  he  was 
wont  to  do,  with  his  hands  crossed  behind  him  and 

his  stern  brow  knit  in  deep  thought.     The  past  cam<^: 
12 


2Q6  THE   OLD   GUARDi 

back  with  renewed  freshness.  Each  'one  litid  somc: 
reminiscence  of  his  chief — so,  said  one,  did  he  stand 
before  our  fire  on  the  morning  of  the  battle  of  Dres- 
den, and  never  moved,  while  the  thunder  of  cannon 
was  shaking  the  field ;  and  so,  said  another,  did  we 
surround  him  in  the  forest  of  Minsk,  on  the  banks  of 
the  Beresina.  Thej  traversed  the  whole  ground 
from  Lodi  and  Areola,  to  Waterloo,  fighting  all  their 
battles  over  again,  and  then  their  eyes  would  gleam 
as  they  spoke  of  St.  Helena.  It  was  a  singular  spec- 
tacle to  behold  those  veterans  from  the  pyramids, 
from  Marengo,  from  Austerlitz,  Jena,  Eylau,  and 
Borodino,  grouped  together  around  a  huge  fire  in  the 
forests  of  Texas,  recounting  their  deeds  and  making 
the  woods  echo  with  shouts  of  "  Vive  V  Ew,'peTeurP 
One  could  hardly  believe  that  they  had  passed  through 
such  great  and  stirring  scenes  for  nearly  a  quarter  of 
a  century,  and  that  those  poor  exiles  had  led  the  col- 
umns of  the  Old  Guard  in  its  terrible  onsets,  and  that 
their  shout  of  victory  had  gone  up  fi-om  the  greatest 
battle-fields  of  Europe.  It  looked  strange  to  see  in 
that  far-off  temple  of  verdure,  the  eagle  of  Austerlitz 
lifted  on  high,  and  around  it  grouped  the  symbols 
and  trophies  they  had  preserved  with  religious  care. 
But  no  description  can  give  such  a  vivid  impres 
sion  of  the  whole  scene,  as  the  celebrated  picture  of 
Horace  Yernet,  called  the  "  Soldat  LahoreMv^''  in 
which  he  exhibits  in  all  the  distinctness  of  life  the 


THE   GUARD   IN   TEXAS.  267 

old  soldier  of  the  Imperial  Guard — his  face  seamed 
with  scars — the  cross  of  honor  on  his  breast,  and  hi? 
spade  in  his  hand  toiling  in  the  solitudes  of  Texas. 

Thus  they  passed  weeks  and  months  in  their  soli 
tary  home  making  the  woods  ring  with  the  stirring 
description  of  marches,  and  sieges,  and  battles,  and 
victories.  Some  among  them  had  been  with  Napo- 
leon at  Elba,  and  recalled  his  kindness  to  his  Old 
Guard  there,  and  how  cheerful  he  seemed  when  ma- 
noeuvring his  little  band,  as  though  it  were  the 
grand  army.  They  had  long  conversations  about 
him  in  his  island  prison,  and  spent  much  of  their 
time  in  forming  plans  to  effect  his  deliverance.  One 
was,  to  obtain  a  swift  sailing  ship,  and  hover  round 
the  coast  till  a  favorable  opportunity  offered  itself, 
and  then  make  a  sudden  descent  and  carry  him  off. 
If  that  remnant  of  the  Old  Guard  could  once  have 
set  foot  on  the  island,  it  would  have  required  some- 
thing more  than  bayonets  to  have  stopped  their  march 
on  Longwood.  But  what  did  they  design  to  do  with 
him  when  they  had  effected  his  release?  To  go  to 
France  and  exhibit  another  return  from  Elba,  and 
another  triumphal  entry  into  Paris  ?  ISTo,  tJiey  "  would 
"bring  him  to  the  Ghamp  d?  AsileP  He  should  stand 
before  their  bivouac  fire,  as  of  old,  and  they  would 
minister  to  his  wants,  and  he  would  be  content  in 
their  midst.  What  a  hold  he  must  have  had  upon 
their  affections  when  he  could  fill  them  with  such  des- 


2(58  THE    OLD    GUABU- 

peiate  resolutions  and  longing  desire  to  have  him  with 
them. 

But  sickness  soon  began  to  thin  their  ranks  and 
break  down  their  hopes.  In  the  meantime,  the  Mex- 
ican government  having  learned  that  a  French  colony 
had,  without  permission,  settled  upon  its  territory, 
sent  a  detachment  of  twelve  hundred  men  to  destroy 
it.  The  Indians,  who  had  ever  been  friendly  to  the 
exiles,  informed  them  of  the  premeditated  attack. 
The  latter  immediately  put  themselves  in  a  posture 
of  defence,  determined,  notwithstanding  their  inferior 
ity  of  numbers,  to  maintain  their  ground.  The  Span- 
ish commander,  however,  halted  when  within  three 
marches  of  their  camp,  and  waited  for  sickness  and 
discouragement  to  do  what  he  dared  not  attempt.  He 
was  not  compelled  to  w^ait  long.  J^ot  receiving  the 
means  they  expected  from  France,  to  carry  out  their 
plan  of  freeing  Mexico,  and  finding  that  after  the  first 
excitement  had  passed  away,  the  Champ  d'Asile  had 
become  in  their  country  a  subject  of  ridicule  rather 
than  of  serious  thought,  and  no  assistance  could  be 
expected  from  any  source,  they  resolved  to  abandon 
the  colony.  Their  numbers  were  constantly  dimin- 
ishing, and  it  was  madness  to  stay  till  their  weakness 
would  render  them  an  easy  prey  to  whomsoever  might 
attack  them.  On  the  6th  of  August,  therefore,  or  a 
littie  more  than  four  months  from  the  time  they 
landed,  they  abandoned  their  camp  and  went  over  U 


THE  GUAKD  LEAVES  TEXAS.  269 

Galveston  Island.  They  remained  here  a  month 
longer,  when,  to  complete  their  wretchedness,  a  hor- 
rible tempest  swept  the  gulf.  The  waves  rose  to  an 
immense  height,  rolling  several  feet  deep  over  the 
island.  These  weary  veterans,  as  they  looked  out  on 
the  wide  waste  of  water,  gave  themselves  up  for  lost 
But  there  chanced  to  be  two  large  and  strongly-built 
cabins  situated  some  distance  from  the  shore  which 
offered  a  temporary  protection,  and  they  crowded 
into  them.  Here  for  three  days  and  nights  they  strug- 
gled manfully  against  the  waves,  when  the  storm 
subsided.  Their  provisions  and  powdei',  however, 
were  all  swallowed  up  in  the  sea.  Their  ammunition 
was  their  last  hope,  but  it  had  gone  like  all  their 
other  hopes,  since  the  battle  of  Waterloo. 

Another  month  of  agony  was  endured  on  this 
island,  at  the  expiration  of  which  General  Lallemand 
sent  word  that  all  prospect  of  attaining  the  end  they 
had  in  view  was  gone,  and  requested  them  to  return 
to  New  Orleans.  The  same  pirate  that  had  before 
carried  them  to  the  island  took  them  off.  The  sick 
and  feeble  went  by  water,  but  the  stronger  crossed 
over  to  the  mainland,  and  guided  by  the  Indians,  struck 
through  the  forests  of  Texas  to  the  frontiers  of  Louis- 
iana, where  many  of  them  stopped  and.repaid  the  hos- 
pitality they  received  by  teaching  the  children  French. 
Those  who  went  to  Kew  Orleans  reached  there  just  as 


270  THE   OLD   GUARD, 

the  yellow  fever  was  raging  with  the  greatest  violencOj 
and  they,  one  after  another,  fell  before  its  fury. 

Fifteen  months  after,  a  subscription  of  80,000 
francs,  which  had  been  collected  in  France,  was  re- 
ceived. But  between  the  sea,  sickness,  yellow  fever, 
and  accidents,  the  ranks  of  those  brave  officers  had 
become  sadly  thinned,  so  that  out  of  more  than  two 
hundred,  only  forty-seven  could  be  found.  Those, 
with  their  usual  generosity,  divided  the  money  with 
those  who  had  been  drawn  to  Kew  Orleans  by  false 
promises,  but  had  not  yet  embarked  for  the  "  Champ 
d'AsiU:' 

The  artillery  of  the  enemy  did  not  thin  the  ranks 
of  the  Old  Guard  faster  than  proscription,  exile, 
poverty,  and  disease.  Those  who  came  to  this  coun- 
try disappeared  like  snow. 

Once  more  only,  do  we  get  a  glimpse  of  the  Old 
Guard.  A  large  number  of  wounded  and  maimed 
soldiers  were  in  the  Hotel  des  Invalides  when  the 
body  of  Napoleon  was  brought  back  from  St.  Helena, 
"  to  rest,"  as  he  requested  in  his  will,  "  on  the  banks 
of  the  Seine,  amid  the  people  he  loved."  These 
dressed  in  the  old  nniform  of  chasseurs,  grena- 
diers, &c.,  came  forth  to  receive  him.  Amid  the 
pomp  and  funereal  splendor  of  that  day,  nothing 
moved  the  people  more  than  the  appearance  of  these 
invalid  soldiers  as  they  stood  on  each  side  of  the 
entrance  of  the  chui'ch  to  receive  the  body  of  theii 


NAPOLEON  S   TOMB. 


271 


old  chieftain.  The  last  time  thej  saw  him  was  on 
the  field  of  battle,  and  now  the  waving  of  standards 
and  thunder  of  cannon,  recalled  the  days  when  he 
marched  in  their  midst.  The  past  came  back  in  such 
a  sudden  and  overwhelming  tide  when  they  saw  the 
coffin  approach,  that  struck  dumb  with  grief,  they 
fell  on  their  knees  and  stretched  out  their  hands 
towards  it,  while  tears  rolled  silently  down  their 
scarred  visages. 

Long  after,  he  who  visited  the  Hotel  des  Invalides 
at  any  hour  of  the  day  would  see  these  old  soldiers 
treading  softly  around  the  coffin  of  Napoleon,  as 
though  they  were  afraid  to  disturb  his  repose.  That 
elevated  tomb  at  night  presented  an  imjDosing  spec- 
tacle ;  upon  the  pall  that  covered  this  strange  and 
mighty  being,  lay  his  hat  worn  at  Eylau,  his  sword 
and  his  crown,  while  over  all  mournfully  drooped 
the  standards  taken  at  Austerlitz.  In  the  centre  of 
the  gold-bordered  draperies  that  extended  from  col- 
umn to  column  of  the  chapel,  shone  in  large  letters, 
"Marengo,"  "Wagram,"  "Austerlitz,"  "Jena." 
A  chandelier,  suspended  from  the  ceiling,  shed  a 
dim  light  over  all.  Around  this  tomb,  night  and 
day,  stood  four  veterans  with  drawn  sabres,  and  often 
on  the  steps  that  led  to  it,  you  would  see  a  mutilated 
grenadier  of  the  Old  Guard  kneeling  as  if  in  prayer. 

Such  is  the  history,  and  such  was  the  character  of 


272  THE   OLD   GUABD,. 

the  Old  Guard,  "  a  phalanx  of  giants,"  the  like  of 
-which  the  world  has  never  beheld.  Its  fame  will 
deepen  with  time,  and  its  memory  grow  dearer  to  al] 
those  who  honor  great  deeds  and  noble  men. 


CHAPTEK  XIY 

Review  of  the  dead— The  office  of  the  French  Eevolntlon— Who  is  responsible  ftn 
the  wars  that  desolated  Europe  for  so  many  years — Bonaparte's  policy  as  general 
—As  First  Consul — Ills  offers  of  peace  rejected — England  violates  the  treaty  of 
Amiens— Napoleon's  relation  to  the  free  States  he  had  organized— Austria  violates 
the  treaty  of  Presbourg— Invasion  of  Russia— Treachery  of  Austria  and  Prussia 
— ^Fall  of  Napoleon — Campaign  of  Waterloo. 

In  1836,  wlien  the  body  of  ITapoleon  was  brought 
back  from  St.  Helena,  the  magnificent  arch  of  tri- 
umph which  terminates  the  grand  avenue  of  the 
Champs  Elysees,  in  Paris,  was  for  the  first  time  dedi 
cated.  Frederick  Soulier  has  taken  advantage  of 
this  coincidence  to  write  a  long  article  entitled  "  A 
Heview  of  the  DeadP  , 

After  the  myriad  lamps  that  lighted  all  the  avenues 
of  the  magnificent  grounds  of  the  Champs  Elysees 
during  the  evening  of  the  celebration,  had  been  ex- 
tinguished, and  the  tread  of  the  vast  multitude,  and 
the  hum  of  their  voices,  had  given  place  to  the  silence 
and  darkness  of  night,  a  sound  like  the  passing  wing 


274  TIIK   OLD   GUARD.' 

of  an  eagle  was  heard  sweeping  by,  and  lo,  a  colossal 
shade  stood  on  the  top  of  the  arch  of  triumph.  It 
was  that  of  Napoleon  wrapped  in  the  blue  mantle 
that  folded  him  on  the  night  after  the  battle  of  Ma- 
rengo. As  he  stood  and  surveyed  the  scene,  he  called 
to  his  side  the  shade  of  his  son,  and  then  summoned 
from  their  distant  fields  of  fame  his  vast  and  slumber- 
ing armies.  From  Egypt,  from  Palestine,  from  Italy, 
from  Spain,  from  the  snow-drifts  of  Russia  and  the 
glaciers  of  the  Alps,  from  Marengo,  and  Austerlitz, 
and  Jena,  and  "Wagram,  and  Friedland,  and  Leipsic, 
and  Waterloo,  the  dead  armies,  headed  by  their  re- 
spective leaders,  came  forth  and  marched  silently 
and  swiftly  forward.  As  they  approached  the  vault 
of  the  arch  under  which  they  M^ere  to  pass,  Napoleon 
pointed  out  each  brave  leader  to  his  son.  Kleber 
and  Desaix,  and  Lannes  bearing  the  banner  of  Lodi 
and  the  sabre  of  honor  of  Marengo,  and  Augereau, 
with  the  flag  that  he  carried  through  the  tempest  of 
fire  that  swept  the  bridge  of  Areola,  Lefebvre,  and 
the  two  Kellermans  and  the  brave  Massena,  each  fol- 
lowed by  their  tens  of  thousands,  passed  in  succes- 
sion, their  shadowy  footfalls  giving  back  no  echo.  As 
column  after  column  swept  under  the  arch,  the  colos- 
sal shade  on  the  top  cried  out,  "  close  up  your  ranks 
and  press  forward,  for  the  morning  approaches,  and  I 
wish  to  see  you  all  before  the  day  dawns."  The  brave 
grenadiers  marched  up,  followed   as  was  their  wont 


REVIEW    OF   THE    DEAD.  275 

in  the  desperate  charge,  by  the  thundering  squadrons 
of  Bessieres.  Murat,  on  his  prancing  steed,  canie 
after,  stooping  as  he  bounded  beneath  the  vault,  as 
though  his  phnne  would  reach  the  lofty  arch.  Poni- 
atowsky,  and  Rapp,  and  last  of  all,  Ney,  the  bravest 
of  the  brave,  with  yat  arms,  pale,  and  pierced  with 
wounds  received  on  no  battle-field,  moved  by  with 
their  thousands,  and  the  pageant  was  over.  But  be- 
fore they  disappeared,  the  colossal  shade  stooped  and 
pointed  with  his  sword  to  the  arch.  A  sudden  flash 
of  lightning  illumined  the  sides,  and  there  these 
heroes  saw  their  names  inscribed  in  imperishable 
rock. 

With  the  first  streakings  of  dawn  in  the  east,  the 
vast  and  shadowy  host  disappeared. 

The  sentinel  on  watch  that  night  at  the  entrance 
of  the  arch,  said  that  all  night  long  the  wind  groaned 
and  swept  in  strange  whispers  through  the  trees  of  the 
Champs  Elys^es  and  the  vault  of  the  arch.  It  was 
the  swift  marching  of  the  ghostly  columns  in  this 
"  review  of  the  dead." 

Could  such  a  marshalling  of  the  hosts  of  Kapoleon 
take  place,  what  a  spectacle  would  be  presented. 
Before  the  amazing  scenes  that  would  rise  one  after 
another  in  rapid  succession,  the  mind  and  senses 
would  be  overwhelmed. 

But  there  is  another  review,  though  not  appealing 
to  the  senses,  which  is  still  more  startling  and  terrifio 


276  THE   OLD   GUARD. 

— a  review  embracing  the  progress  of  civil  freedom, 
which  marched  with  those  iron  columns,  whose  heavy 
footsteps  sounded  the  death-knell  of  tyranny  in  all 
Europe — the  waking  up  of  the  human  mind  from  the 
sleep  of  ages,  to  think  and  act  for  itself — the  rending 
of  fetters — the  sudden  daylight  poured  on  man's 
oppressions — the  breaking  up  of  old  systems — the 
upheaving  of  thrones — the  development  of  moral 
power,  and  the  final  launch  of  the  world,  with  all  its 
hopes  and  interests,  upon  the  tm-bulent  sea  of  demo 
cracy. 

In  my  "  Napoleon  and  his  Marshals,"  I  gave  a 
succinct  review  of  the  relations  the  former  sustained 
to  the  nations  of  Europe,  fixing  the  guilt  of  the  wars 
he  waged  with  such  fierceness  on  the  governments 
that  surrounded  him.  Having  since  observed  that 
those  who  differed  with  me  took  those  statements  as 
mere  assertions,  I  shall  be  pardoned  for  devoting  the 
last  chapter  of  this  work  to  proofs  of  what  I  then 
said,  in  order  to  show  that  while  describing  his  deeds, 
and  those  of  his  Guard,  I  have  not  been  eulogizing 
mere  wamors,  fighting  only  for  renown,  but  men 
engaged  the  greater  part  of  the  time  in  the  cause  of 
freedom. 

In  the  first  place,  no  one  who  professes  to  give  an 
opinion  on  history  denies  that  the  first  coalition 
against  France  was  without  the  least  provocation. 
The  people  chose  to  get  rid  of  the  Bourbons  and 


ORIGIN    OF   THE   WARS.  2YY 

establish  a  republic,  and  the  allied  powers  chose 
they  should  not.  Their  only  pretence  for  going  to 
war  against  a  nation  with  which  they  were  at  peace, 
was,  that  a  republic  endangered  the  tranquillity  of 
Europe,  and  the  stability  of  their  thrones.  They 
considered  this  an  ample  reason  and  needing  no 
defence,  and  so  France  was  assailed  on  every 
side. 

As  we,  in  both  our  wars  with  England,  directed 
our  efforts  at  once  against  Canada,  so  did  France 
move  against  the  Austrian  possessions  in  Italy,  and 
for  the  same  reason,  viz.,  because  she  could  more 
easily  reach  her  enemy  there.  The  only  difference 
in  the  two  cases  is,  that  we,  especially  in  1812, 
waged  what  some  might  term  an  offensive  war, 
while  that  of  the  republic  was  entirely  a  defensive  one. 
Therefore,  as  general  of  the  French  army  in  Italy, 
Bonaparte  did  nothing  more  than  obey  his  govern- 
ment, while  his  government,  in  assailing  its  enemy, 
did  that  which  no  one  can  for  a  moment  condemn. 
Hence,  it  is  not  difficult  to  designate  the  authors  of 
these  bloody  wars. 

But  after  defeating  the  Aastrians,  it  is  said  he 
marched  into  Rome,  and  treated  a  neutral  power  as 
an  enemy,  for  the  sole  love  of  conquest.  Let  us  look 
at  the  facts :  Under  the  mediation  of  Spain,  an  ar 
mistice  had  been  concluded  with  the  Papal  States,  a* 


,278  TFIE   OLD    GUAKl)'. 

Bologna,  and  ratified  at  Rome.  But  Cardinal  Busca 
who  succeeded  Cardinal  Zelada  as  Secretary  of  State, 
repudiated  this  armistice,  and  openly  formed  a  con- 
nection with  Austria,  with  which  France  was  at  war, 
and  attempted  to  raise  an  army.  Having  chosen  to 
break  his  plighted  word,  and  become  an  enemy  to 
the  republic,  the  Pope  could  not  expect  otherwise 
than  to  share  the  fata  of  an  enem3^  As  good  fortune 
would  have  it,  the  courier  sent  from  Home  to  Yienna 
with  despatches  announcing  this  alliance,  was  inter- 
cepted near  Mezzolo.  These  despatches  declared 
that  the  "  armistice  of  Bologna  would  not  be  exe- 
cuted, notwithstanding  the  loud  complaints  of  the 
French  minister,  Cacault — that  the  Pope  was  raising 
troops,  and  that  he  had  accepted  the  commander-in- 
chief  proposed  by  Austria,  and  requested  that  gene- 
ral to  bring  with  him  a  good  number  of  officers, 
engineers,  and  artillery."  Cacault,  of  course,  was 
ordered  by  the  French  government  to  leave  Rome  at 
once,  and  Napoleon  marched  into  the  capital  of  his 
Holiness.  With  regard  to  the  levies  he  made  on  the 
Pope  for  thus  violating  the  armistice,  and  allying 
himself  with  an  enemy,  I  have  nothing  to  say,  for 
my  purpose  is  not  to  defend  a  single  action  of  Napo- 
leon, as  a  man  or  a  ruler,  except  it  relates  to  the  sim- 
ple question  of  peace  and  war.  I  wish  only  to  show 
on  whose  shoulders  rests  the  responsibility  of  those 


THE   FIRST   CONSUL.  '      279 

terrific  wars  which  we  have  so  long  charged  to  Bona 
parte,  and  which  make  it  seem  so  criminal  in  any 
one  to  defend  him. 

The  campaign  in  Egypt  which  followed,  was  un- 
dertaken entirely  for  conquest.  Russia  had  the 
north  and  most  of  the  west  of  Asia ;  England  pos- 
sessed the  south  ;  and  Bonaparte  declared  that 
France  should  claim  the  Levant.  The  expedition 
was  based  on  the  self-same  motives  which  prompted 
England  to  wage  an  aggressive  war  in  India,  and  the 
United  States  in  Mexico ;  and  no  reasonable  mind 
would  ever  adduce  it,  except  to  prove  that  France, 
like  all  other  nations,  desired  colonies,  and  was  not 
very  scrupulous  about  the  method  of  obtaining  them. 

We  now  come  to  the  appointment  of  Bonaparte  as 
First  Consul. 

After  his  elevation  to  the  head  of  affairs,  he  was 
responsible  for  the  acts  of  government ;  for  he  was, 
in  fact,  the  government,  long  before  he  placed  on  his 
head  the  imperial  crown. 

His  first  act,  on  assuming  the  direction  of  affairs, 
was  noble,  and  clears  him  triumphantly  from  the 
charge  of  being  the  author  of  the  war  that  followed. 
Stepping  aside  from  the  usual  path  of  diplomacy,  he 
wrote,  with  his  own  hand,  two  letters — -one  to  the 
king  of  England,  and  another  to  the  emperor  of  Ger- 
many. To  the  first,  he  said,  "  Called,  Sire,  by  the 
wishes  of  the  French  nation,  to  occupy  the  first 


280  THE   OLD   GUARD. 

magistracy  of  the  Republic,  I  judge  it  well,  on  en 
tcring  my  office,  to  address  myself  directly  to  your 
majesty. 

"  Must  the  war  which,  for  the  last  eight  years,  has 
devastated  the  four  quarters  of  the  world,  be  eternal  'i 
Are  there  no  means  of  coming  to  an  understanding  ? 
How  can  the  two  most  enlightened  nations  of  Europe, 
stronger  already  and  more  powerful  than  their  safety 
or  their  independence  requires,  sacrifice,  to  the  ideas 
of  vain-glory,  the  well-being  of  commerce,  internal 
prosperity,  and  the  peace  of  families?  How  is  it 
that  they  do  not  feel  peace  to  be  the  first  of  necessi- 
ties as  the  first  of  glories? 

"These  sentiments  cannot  be  strangers  to  the  heart 
of  your  majesty,  who  governs  a  free  people,  with  the 
sole  aim  of  rendering  it  happy. 

"  Your  majesty  will  perceive  only  in  this  overture 
the  sincerity  of  my  desire  to  contribute  efficaciously, 
for  the  second  time,  to  a  general  pacification  by  this 
prompt  advance,  perfectly  confidential  and  disem- 
barrassed of  those  forms,  which,  perhaps  necessary 
to  disguise  the  dependence  of  weak  states,  reveal, 
when  adopted  by  strong  states,  only  the  wish  of 
mutual  deception. 

"France  and  England,  by  the  misuse  of  their 
powers,  may  yet,  for  a  long  period,  retard,  to  the 
misery  of  all  nations,  their  own  exhaustion.  But  1 
venture  to  say  that  the  fate  of  all  civilized  nations  is 


NAPOLEON    DESIRES   PEACE  281 

connected  with  the  termination  of  a  war  which  haa 
set  the  whole  world  in  flames. 

"  (Signed),  Bonaparte. 

"  First  Consul  of  the  French  BejpvhUc.''^ 

He  wrote  at  the  same  time  to  the  emperor  of  Ger 
many,  \h.Q  following  letter : 

"  Having  returned  to  Europe  atlber  an  absence  of 
eighteen  months,  I  find  a  war  kindled  between  the 
French  Kepublic  and  your  majesty. 

"  The  French  nation  has  called  me  to  the  occupa 
tion  of  the  first  magistracy. 

"  A  stranger  to  every  feeling  of  vain-glory,  the 
first  of  my  wishes  is,  to  stop  the  effusion  of  blood 
which  is  about  to  flow.  Everything  leads  me  to 
foresee  that  in  the  next  campaign,  numerous  armies, 
well  conducted,  will  treble  the  number  of  victims 
who  have  already  fallen  since  the  resumption  of  hos- 
tilities. The  well  known  character  of  your  majesty 
leaves  me  no  doubt  as  to  the  secret  wishes  of  your 
heart.  If  those  wishes  are  only  listened  to,  I  per- 
ceive the  possibility  of  reconciling  the  interests  of 
the  two  nations. 

''  In  the  relations  which  I  have  formerly  enter- 
tained with  your  majesty,  you  have  shown  me  some 
personal  regard  ;  I  beg  you,  therefore,  to  see  in  this 
overture,  which  I  have  made  to  you,  the  desire  to 
respond  to  that  regard,  and  to  convince  your  ma- 


282  THE   OLD    GUARp. 

jesty  more  aud  more  of  the  very  distinguiBhed  con 
«ideration  which  I  feel  towards  you. 

"  (Signed),  Bonaparte." 

Here  was  a  frank  and  generous  challenge  to  peace, 
made  in  all  sincerity,  to  two  nations  which  had  so 
long  waged  an  unprovoked  war  against  France. 
The  king  of  England  would  not  condescend  to  reply 
directly,  but  sent  an  answer  through  his  minister ; 
and  instead  of  meeting  these  advances  towards  a 
pacification,  he  made  out  a  long  list  of  charges 
against  France,  accusing  the  Republic  of  violent 
and  oppressive  acts,  declaring  that  in  the  present 
change  of  the  government  he  saw  no  guarantee  for 
the  future — in  short,  that  nothing  could  satisfy  his 
majesty  but  the  restoration  of  the  house  of  Bourbon. 
The  whole  reply  was  weak  and  ridiculous,  and  was 
60  regarded  by  sensible  men  at  the  time.  Bonaparte, 
instead  of  yielding  to  indignation,  replied  in  court- 
eous terms.  Reviewing  the  past,  he  proved  conclu- 
sively that  France  took  up  arms  solely  to  resist  an 
aggressive  war,  made  on  her  by  Europe  banded 
together  to  overthrow  the  Republic  ;  and  while  he 
did  not  deny  that  acts  of  violence  had  been  com- 
mitted, he  more  than  hinted  that  they  who  had  at- 
tacked France  with  such  animosity,  should  look  to 
themselves  as  the  cause  of  them.  "  But,"  he  added, 
"  to  what  good  end  are  all  these  reminiscences  1 
Here  is  cow  a  government  well  disposed  to  put  an 


ENGLAND   DPJSIEES    WAR.  283 

end  to  war.  Is  the  war  to  be  eternal,  because  this  oi 
that  party  was  the  first  aggressor  ?  And  if  it  be  not 
desired  to  render  it  eternal,  must  there  not  be  first  an 
end  made  of  these  endless  recriminations  ?  At  all 
events,  if  they  could  not  make  a  peace  at  once,  let 
them  agree  on  an  armistice  and  give  time  and  facili- 
ties for  coming  to  a  good  understanding."  Lord 
Grenville,  the  English  minister,  seeing  the  ridiculous 
and  unpleasant  attitude  in  which  Bonaparte  had 
placed  him,  replied  in  worse  temper  and  worse  rea- 
soning than  before,  and  finally  confessed  that  England 
waged  war  "/<9r  the  security  of  all  governments ^"^  and 
no  ofifers  of  peace  would  be  listened  to. 

Austria  replied  in  a  more  becoming  manner,  and 
for  once  was  perfectly  honest,  for  she  declared  that 
•'  war  was  carried  on^  only  to  jpreserve  Europe  from  a 
general  earthguakeP  "  The  security  of  all  govern- 
ments," and  the  prevention  of  "  a  general  earth- 
quake," meant  the  same  thing,  namely,  the  destruc- 
tion of  a  mighty  republic  that  had  arisen  from  under 
a  throne  in  the  midst  of  their  thrones.  Bonaparte, 
of  course,  understood  the  import  of  this  language — 
it  was  saying  emphatically,  "  We  do  not  want  peace ; 
we  will  not  even  entertain  a  proposition  for  it  until 
the  republic  is  no  more."  Fox,  Sheridan,  Lord  Hol- 
land, and  others,  bore  down  with  tremendous  power 
on  this  decision  of  the  British  government.  "  You 
ask,"  said  they,  "  who  was  the  aggressor  ?  and  what 


284-  THE   OLD   GUAKD. 

matters  that?  You  say  that  it  is  France,  and  Franpe 
says  that  it  is  England.  Is  it  then  necessary  to  main- 
tain an  internecine  war  until  both  nations  shall  agree 
on  a  point  of  history.  And  what  matters  it  who  is 
the  aggressor,  if  that  party  which  is  accused  thereof 
be  the  first  which  offers  to  lay  down  its  arras  !  You 
say  it  is  useless  to  treat  with  France.  Yet  yourselves 
sent  Lord  Malmsbury  to  Lille  to  treat  with  the  Direc- 
tory. Prussia  and  Spain  have  treated  with  the 
French  Republic,  and  have  had  no  cause  for  com- 
plaint. You  speak  of  ambition,  but  Russia,  Prussia, 
and  Austria,  have  divided  Poland.  Austria  has  re- 
conquered Italy  without  restoring  to  their  states  the 
princes  dispossessed  by  France.  Either  you  will 
never  treat  at  all  with  the  French  Republic,  or  you 
will  never  find  a  more  favorable  moment  for  doing 
so.  Unless  it  be  confessed  that  Great  Britain,  her 
blood,  her  treasure,  all  her  resources,  the  most  pre- 
cious, are  to  be  wasted  for  the  re-establishment  of  the 
house  of  Bourbon,  no  good  reason  can  be  assigned 
why  we  should  now  refuse  to  treat."  Tierney,  also, 
hit  the  government  to  the  quick — said  he,  "  Do  you 
remember  the  war  with  America  ?  Is  it  not  rather 
for  the  principle  it  represents  you  are  striving.^^ 
Sheridan  referring  to  the  capitulation  to  Brune,  of 
the  late  English  expedition  against  Holland,  said,  "It 
seems  that  if  our  government  cannot  conclude  treaties 


MARENOO.  385 

of  peace  with  the  French  republic,  it  can  at  least  con- 
clude capitulations.'''''^ 

Bonaparte  forced  into  a  war,  soon  made  Europe 
tremble  with  the  tread  of  his  legions.  The  battles  or' 
Engen  and  Maeskirk,  Ulra,  Genoa,  Montibello, 
crowned  with  the  terrible  slaughter  of  Marengo,  rest 
not  on  Bonaparte,  nor  on  the  French  Kepublic,  but 
on  England  and  Austria,  which  refused  even  to  nego- 
tiate for  peace.  From  this  last  battle-field,  Bonaparte, 
deeply  affected  by  the  spectacle  it  presented,  wrote 
again  a  long  letter  to  the  emperor  of  Austria.  For- 
getting, in  the  impulse  of  the  moment,  the  ceremo- 
nious forms  of  diplomacy,  he  said,  "  It  is  on  the  field 
of  battle,  amid  the  suiFerings  of  a  multitude  of  the 
wounded,  and  surrounded  by  15,000  corpses,  that  I 
beseech  your  majesty  to  listen  to  the  voice  of  human- 
ity, and  not  to  sufier  two  brave  nations  to  cut  each 
other's  throats  for  interests  not  their  own.  It  is  my 
part  to  press  this  on  your  majesty,  being  upon  the 
very  theatre  of  war.  Yonr  majesty's  heart  cannot 
feel  it  so  keenly  as  does  mine."  After  the  first 
emotions  had  subsided,  he  felt  somewhat  mortified 
that  he  had  given  way  to  such  impulsive  expres- 
sions to  men  who  calculated  everything  by  the  cold 
rules  of  diplomacy,  and  in  speaking  of  the  letter  to 
the  consuls,  he  told  them  with  an  air  of  chagrin,  they 

*  Vide  Thiers'  Consulate  and  Empire. 


286  THE    OLD   GUARD. 

'''-miqlit  think  it  somewhat  original^  but  it  was  written 
on  the  field  of  battle." 

An  armistice  followed,  and  so  anxious  was  IBona- 
parte  to  contract  a  treaty  of  peace,  that  the  Austrian 
minister  at*  Paris  was  persuaded  to  sign  articles  con- 
ditionally, although  he  was  not  empowered  to  do  so. 

But  this  long  armistice  wore  away  without  any  defi- 
nite results,  and  the  campaign  of  Hohenlinden  follow- 
ed. Austria,  now  thoroughly  alarmed,  agreed  to  sign  a 
peace  immediately,  although  the  terms  insisted  on  by 
Bonaparte  were  much  harder  than  those  he  had 
induced  the  Austrian  minister  during  the  armistice 
to  sign  conditionally.  It  is  true  France  acquired  ter- 
ritory by  this  treaty,  and  she  had  a  right  to  do  so. 
Austria  could  expect  nothing  else  from  a  nation  it 
had  forced  into  a  war.  The  great  expense  and  sacri- 
fice necessary  to  secure  the  marvellous  victories  which 
had  saved  France,  demanded  some  reward.  It  is 
worthy  of  remark  here,  that  all  the  possessions  Bona- 
parte obtained,  were  given  up  by  treaty  to  compensate 
for  an  unjust  and  aggressive  war.  This  was  the  peace 
of  Luneville,  signed  the  9th  of  February,  1801.  I 
will  say  nothing  of  the  conditions  of  that  treaty, 
whether  hard  on  the  allies  or  not.  Whatever  they 
might  think  of  them,  they  had  themselves  only  to 
thank. 

Both  England  and  Austria  at  last  discovered  tliat 
they  could  treat  with    the   French  Republic,  for  i/ 


TREATY    OF    AMIENS.  28  <" 

began  to  dawn  on  them  that  while  fighting  for  tiio 
secuntj  ol  other  governments,  they  might  not  be  able 
to  take  care  of  their  own. 

In  Octobei  of  this  year,  the  celebrated  peace  of 
Amiens  was  concluded,  and  Europe;  was  at  rest. 
Among  other  conditions  in  this  treaty,  England  was 
to  evacuate  Egypt  and  Malta,  and  France  evacuate 
JSTaples,  Tarento,  and  the  Roman  Staton.  Bonaparte 
carried  out  his  part  of  the  treaty  in  two  months,  while 
ten  months  passed  away  and  England  to  k  no  steps  to 
evacuate  Malta  and  Egypt.  When  pre3"*(^.d  to  execute 
the  terms  of  a  solemn  treaty  she  shuiflec  \md  procras 
tinated  until  at  length  the  First  Consul's  interference 
in  the  affairs  of  Switzerland  gave  her  c  pretext  for 
her  refusal.  Revolution  and  counter-rev  Jution  were 
wrecking  the  Swiss  Confederacy,  anC  Bonaparte, 
called  upon  for  help,  marched  his  troop?  to  the  fron- 
tiers, and  put  down  the  oligarchs.  The  tr.peditious 
and  just  manner  in  which  he  settled  th^  <ifficulties, 
brought  forth  warm  congratulations  fro^  both  the 
Russian  and  Prussian  cabinets.  England  v  as  aston- 
ished to  see  the  only  available  excuse  for  \.  dating  a 
treaty  taken  from  her  hands,  but  remained  Vvtubborvi 
to  her  purpose. 

At  length  Bonaparte  put  tlie  question  categf  ti.'AUy  to 
the  English  minister.  Lord  Whitworth,  "  TP?'t7  ^'.\  or 
will  you  not  execute  the  treaty  of  Amiens?  \  Ls-^e 
executed  it  on  my  part  v^ith  scrupulous  fidelity.    Ihut 


288  THE   OLD   GUARD. 

treaty  obliged  me  to  evacuate  Naples,  Tarcnto,  and 
the  Roman  States  within  three  months,  in  less  than 
two  all  the  French  troops  were  out  of  those  countries 
Ten  months  have  elapsed  since  the  exchange  of  the 
ratifications  and  the  English  troops  are  still  in  Malta 
ai  d  at  Alexandria.     It  is  useless  to  try  to  deceive  us 
on  this  point;  will  you  have  peace,  or  will  you  have 
war?"     He   declared   that   he   would   not   see   that 
solemn  treaty  violated — it  would  disgrace  the  French 
nation   and   prove  her   incapable   of  defending   her 
honor.     "  For  my  part,"  said  he,  "  my  resolution  is 
fixed  ;  Iliad  rather  see  you  in  possession  of  the  heights 
of  Montmartre  than  of  Malta.^''     He  wound  up  by 
saying,  "  Now,  if  you  doubt  my  desire  to  preserve 
peace,  listen,  and  judge  how  far  I  am  sincere.    Though 
yet  very  young,  I  have  attained  a  renown  to  which  it 
would  be  difficult  to  add.     Do  you  imagine  I  am 
willing  to  risk  this  power  in  a  desperate  struggle  ? 
But  if  I  have  a  war  with  Austria,  I  will  contrive  to 
find  my  way  to  Vienna.     If  I  have  a  war  with  you,  I 
will  take  from  you  every  ally  on  the  continent."     In 
this  frank  manner  he  went   on   declaring  what  he 
wished  and  what  he  would  do,  if  forced  again  into  a 
war,  saying — that  if  England  was  bent  on  perpetual 
war,  he  would  endeavor  to  cross  the  straits,  "  a7idj  per- 
haps^ hury  in  the  depths  of  the  sea  his  fm'tune^  his 
glory^  and  his  life?'^     He  strained  every  nerve  to 
preserve  the  peace,  and  even  endeavored  to  corapro- 


ENGLISH    PERFIDY.  289 

mise  the  matter,  by  offering  to  put  Malta  into  the 
hands  of  the  Emperor  of  Russia  in  trust,  until  the 
differences  between  France  and  England  could  be 
settled.  Nothing,  however,  would  do;  England  was 
bent  on  a  rupture,  and  Bonaparte  seeing  that  all  his 
efforts  were  useless,  said,  "  Henceforth  the  treaties 
must  he  covered  with  Maclc  crajpe^''  On  the  20th  (>f 
May,  1803,  he  issued  a  proclamation  declaring  the 
rupture  of  the  treaty  of  Amiens.  Ko  one  acquainted 
with  history  doubts  on  whom  the  guilt  of  involving 
Europe  in  the  war  that  followed,  and  of  deluging  her 
plains  in  blood  rests.  Even  Alison,  a  high  tory  Eng 
lish  w^riter,  and  w^ho  never  loses  an  opportunity  to 
exculpate  his  country  on  the  most  frivolous  pleas,  is 
compelled  to  hold  the  following  remarkable  language  : 
"Tti  coolly  reviewing  the  circumstances  under  which 
this  contest  was  renewed^  it  is  impossible  to  deny  that 
the  British  gcn^ernment  manifested  a  feverish  anxiety 
to  come  to  a  rupture^  and  that  so  far  as  the  two  coun- 
tries were  concerned^  they  were  the  aggressorsP 

Bonaparte  immediately  prepared  for  war,  and  the 
invasion  of  England  occupied  all  his  thoughts.  In 
the  meantime,  however,  the  Emperor  of  Russia  offered 
his  mediation,  which  Napoleon  at  once  accepted,  and 
proposed  to  make  him  "  sole  arbiter  of  the  greot 
quarrel  which  occupied  the  world."  He  even  pro- 
mised "  to  give  a  bond  by  which  he  would  engage  to 
%:ihm,it  to  the  award  of  the  Emperor  Alexander,^  'ohat- 
13 


290  TIIIO    OLD    GUARD; 

ever  it  might  he,  confiding  entirely  in  his  justice.''* 
England  knowing  tlie  injustice  of  her  cause,  refused 
to  make  Alexander  supreme  judge  in  the  case,  but 
had  no  objections  to  use  him  as  an  agent,  which 
she  endeavored  to  do.  This  Bonaparte  resented,  and 
abruptly  abandoned  the  project. 

Alexander,  however,  young,  ambitious,  and  giddy, 
became  persuaded  that  it  devolved  on  him  to  settle 
the  affairs  of  the  continent  A  plan  was  there- 
fore set  on  foot  for  the  reconstruction  of  Europe. 
This  plan  contained  many  generous  features  and 
many  whimsical  ideas.  When  submitted  to  the  Eng- 
lish government  it  was  shorn  of  its  visionary  por- 
tions and  despoiled  of  its  generosity.  It  was,  how- 
ever, a  god-send  to  England,  for  by  her  superior 
diplomacy  she  made  it  the  groundwork  of  a  new  co- 
alition against  France.  I  cannot  go  into  the  history 
of  this  coalition.  After  many  alterations  and  long 
discussions,  &c.,  a  plan  was  formed  which  proposed 
four  things  :  1st.  To  cut  down  France  to  her  former 
limits  before  the  revolution — i.  e.,  to  take  away  from 
her  all  she  had  gained  in  a  defensive  war,  and  which 
had  been  secured  to  her  by  treaty  with  these  very 
powers.  Its  first  object,  therefore,  was  the  same  as 
if  the  allied  powers  should  now  combine  to  take  from 
us  the  territory  recently  ceded  to  us  by  Mexico.  The 
only  difference  in  the  two  cases  would  be  that  France 
won  her  possessions  in  resisting  aggression,  and  her 


THIKI)    COALITION.  S^^l 

domination  was  preferred  bj  the  people  thenueh^es  ; 
while  we  gained  ours  by  an  unprovoked  war.  and 
forced  unwilling  subjects  to  submit  to  our  authority. 
The  2d  grand  proposition  was  to  dispose  of  all  the 
weaker  states  as  the  allies  thought  proper,  without 
any  reference  to  the  wishes  of  the  states  themselves. 
Austria  and  Prussia,  which  would  be  compelled  to 
bear  the  brunt  of  the  struggle,  they  knew  must  reap 
some  decided  advantage  from  the  coalition,  or  they 
would  not  join  it.  Lombardy  was,  therefore,  pro- 
mised to  Austria,  and  all  the  Low  Countries  to 
Prussia,  while  the  Rejpuhlios  of  Italy  which  Napo- 
leon had  formed  should  be  parcelled  out  to  differ- 
ent sovereigns.  A  more  villanous  transaction  could 
not  have  been  concocted.  Its  aim,  of  course,  was  to 
extinguish  all  the  independent  states  governed  by 
free  principles  which  Napoleon  had  set  up  and  de- 
fended. 

The  last  proposition  was  in  general  terms,  thrown 
in  as  a  saving  clause  to  cover  all  their  transactions — • 
it  was  "  to  establish  a  system  of  public  right 
throughout  Europe."  This  "  public  right,"  meant 
security  against  repubHcan  principles.  Bonaparte,  in 
resisting  the  aggressive  war  of  Austria,  conquered 
her  possessions  in  Italy,  and  had  a  perfect  right  to 
incorporate  them  into  France.  But  this  he  refused 
to  do,  and  instead,  erected  them  into  a  republic.  It 
was  not  the  conquests  that  Bonaparte  was  making 


2^2  THE    OLD   GUARD. 

that  alarmed  the  sovereigns  of  Europe,  but  the  inde- 
pendent republics  he  formed  from  the  possessions  he 
wrung  from  the  enemy,  and  to  which  that  enemy 
could  show  no  title.  These  republics,  all  looking  to 
the  powerful  arm  of  Napoleon  for  protection,  were 
like  80  many  ghosts  to  monarchs,  standing  and  point- 
ing at  their  thrones. 

This  coalition,  called  the  third,  which,  in  the 
end,  was  to  cover  Europe  with  the  slain,  progressed 
slowly,  and  seemed  averse  to  enter  on  the  dreadful 
struggle  without  some  excuse  to  conceal  the  real 
motives  that  swayed  it.  At  length  that  excuse  was 
found  in  the  incorporation  of  Genoa  and  the  Cis-Al- 
pine  Republic  into  the  French  Empire.  The  11th 
article  of  the  treaty  of  Luneville  says,  "  The  contract- 
ing parties  shall  mutually  guarantee  the  independence 
of  Batavia,  the  Helvetian,  Cis-Alpine,  and  Ligurian 
Kepublics,  and  the  right  to  the  people  who  inhabit 
them  to  adopt  whatever  form  of  governme7it  they 
think fity  The  merging  of  these  Italian  republics, 
therefore,  was  declared  a  violation  of  that  treaty  and 
a  sufficient  cause  for  war.  Look  at  the  honesty  of  the 
pretence  here  k  .t  up.  A  year  before  this  took  place, 
these  same  upholders  of  sacred  treaties  had  formed  the 
plan  to  give  Holland  to  Prussia,  as  a  bribe  for  her  co- 
operation ;  Lombardy,  to  Austria ;  and  the  Liguripn 
Republic  to  Sardinia.  After  having  deliberately 
resolved  to  quench  these  free  States,  which  they  had 


ITALIAN    RT^.PUBLICS.  293 

g^iaranteed  to  preserve,  they  had  the  audacity  to 
declare  that  the  merging  of  them  into  the  French 
Empire  was  the  cause  of  the  coalition.  Certainly 
if  these  republics  were  to  disappear  as  independent 
governments,  they  belonged  to  France.  She  had 
conquered  them  and  refrained  originally  from  incor- 
porating them  into  her,  because  she  preferred  to  make 
them  free.  More  than  this,  who  could  blame  K^apo- 
leon  when  he  saw  a  vast  conspiracy  forming  against 
him,  the  plan  of  which  he  could  not  get  at,  for 
strengthening  himself  on  ever}^  side?  This  young 
and  enthusiastic  ruler  had  dreamed  in  his  ambition, 
of  reconstructing  society,  of  advancing  civil  freedom 
and  waking  up  men  to  new  views  and  hopes,  and  for 
this  purpose  had  made  republics  out  of  conquered 
states.  But  now  he  looked  around  him  and  saw  the 
strongest  monarchies  of  Europe  concerting  together 
for  liis  overthrow\  With  whom  could  he  combine  to 
resist  them — with  what  powers  could  he  form  an 
alliance  ?  There  was  nothing  left  to  sympathise  M'ith 
him  but  those  grateful  young  republics,  and  who 
could  blame  him  for  wishing  their  aid  to  stay  up  his 
empire?  Any  monarch  threatened  as  he  was,  would 
have  done  it.  But  the  infamous  coalition  had  not 
even  this  excuse.  By  that  very  article  of  the  treaty 
of  Luneville  it  was  guaranteed  ''  to  the  people  the 
right  to  adopt  whatever  form  of  government  they 
thought  fit,"  and  that  right  they  exercised  in  choosing 


294  THE    OLD    QUARI^. 

that  of  the  French  Empire.  Napoleon  did  not  iucor 
porate  these  republics  into  his  empire — he  did  nol 
subvert  the  free  governments  he  had  given  them. 
Tlie  Cis-Aljpine  Rejouhlio  and  Genoa^  separately^  in 
Legislature  assembled,  passed  a  decree  requesting  to 
1)6  taken  into  that  Empire.  They  saw  a  coming 
storm  and  avoided  it  in  the  best  way  they  could.  Sep- 
arately, they  could  do  nothing  against  a  coalition. 
They  would  be  wiped  out  with  a  single  blow.  Hol- 
land was  to  be  given  to  Prussia;  why  should  not  she 
prefer  to  ally  herself  with  France  which  had  restored 
her  independence?  The  Cis-Alpine  Republic  was  to 
go  back  to  the  dreaded  and  hated  domination  of 
Austria  ;  why  should  she  not  prefer  the  sway  of  Na- 
poleon, when  he  guaranteed  to  her  free  laws  ?  Genoa 
was  to  be  handed  over  to  the  tyrannical  king  of  Sar 
dinia ;  how  could  she  do  otherwise  than  ask  the  pro- 
tection of  the  French  eagles?  All  these  states  saw 
that  trouble  was  brewing,  and  they  knew  whatever 
shape  it  took,  the  success  of  the  allies  would  ensure 
their  overthrow.  No  alternative,  therefore,  was  left 
them,  and  as  they  had  a  right  to  choose  their  own  form 
of  government,  they  of  com-se  had  the  right  also  to 
choose  their  relations  to  France.  That  Napoleon, 
when  he  saw  the  drift  of  things,  desired  and  sought 
the  incorporation  of  these  separate  republics  into  his 
empire,  no  one  doubts.  France  had  changed  into  a 
monarchy,  and  a  corresponding  change  would  nati? 


HOLLAND.  295 

rally  pass  over  those  who  relied  for  safety  on  hei 
piotection ;  still  no  violence  or  threats  were  used. 
The  senate  of  Genoa,  by  a  vote  of  twenty  out  of 
twenty-two,  resolved  to  ask  to  be  incorporated  into  tha 
French  Empire  in  order  to  partake  of  its  fortunes  and 
enjoy  its  prosperity.  This  vote,  before  being  exe- 
cuted, was  submitted  to  the  people.  Registers  were 
opened,  and  the  people  called  upon  to  give  their  suf- 
frages on  the  question.  The  majority  in  favor  of  the 
incorporation  was  overwhelming.  Lucca  sent  tho 
same  request,  but  IN'apoleon  refused,  and  made  it 
instead  a  separate  principality.  The  Cis-Alpine,  or, 
as  it  had  become,  the  Italian  Republic,  through  its 
vice-president.  Count  Melzi,  asked  of  the  French 
Senate  to  be  incorporated  into  the  Empire,  declaring 
•'  it  saw  no  other  way  of  saving  its  infant  institutions." 
The  Yice  President  then  read  "  the  fundamental  arti- 
cles of  the  act  of  settlement  by  which  ]S"apoleon  w^as 
declared  King  of  Italy."  Holland,  though  long  ago 
conquered  by  the  French,  was  still  a  free  state,  though 
a  close  ally  of  France,  and  bound  by  treaty  to  share 
her  fortunes.  As  the  final  disappearance  of  this  old 
commonwealth  into  a  monarchy,  with  a  brother  of 
l^apoleon  at  its*  head,  has  often  been  bitterly  de- 
nounced, it  may  not  be  amiss  to  glance  at  its  history. 
For  a  long  succession  of  years  the  Netherlands 
were  divided  into  two  parties.  Orange  and  anti« 
Orange.     Without  referring  to  other  difierences,  it  is 


296 


THE    OLD    GUAKl). 


necessary  for  our  purpose  to  state  only  that  the  antir 
Orange  was  the  rejpuhlican  party.  These  two  factions 
strove  against  each  other  with  various  successes  till 
174rT,  when  the  Orange  party  triumphed  and  the  dig- 
nity of  Stadtholder  was  made  hereditary  in  the  family 
of  William  lY.  In  1786,  however,  the  republicans 
again  obtained  the  ascendency  and  drove  the  Stadt- 
holder  out  of  the  provinces.  But  Prussia  coming  to 
the  rescue  with  25,000  men,  the  Orange  party  was 
reinstated  in  power.  The  French  Revolution  followed, 
and  when  in  1794  the  republican  army  approached 
the  frontiers  of  Holland,  the  patriots  again  rose,  and 
with  its  aid,  overthrew  the  hereditary  Stadtholder. 
A  republic  was  immediately  formed  after  the  model 
of  that  of  France.  The  result  was,  Great  Britain 
declared  war  against  her  and  robbed  her  of  some  of 
her  most  valuable  colonies,  and  nearly  destroyed  her 
commerce  and  finances.  This  is  the  famous  conquest 
of  Holland  by  France.  She  put  an  end  to  her  inter- 
nal troubles,  and  gave  her  a  free  and  independent 
government,  while  England,  which  declaimed  so 
loudly  against  the  rapacity  of  the  new  republic, 
robbed  her  of  her  territory  as  unscrupulously  as  she 
has  since  robbed  India  of  her  possessions.  It  was 
owing  to  the  bankruptcy  which  England  had  caused 
that  compelled  her  at  length  to  seek  admission  into 
the  French  Empire.  In  view  of  the  evils  that  em 
barrassed  the  state,  the  states-general  sent  four  am- 


EFFECTS    OF    THE    GOALinON.  297 

bassadors  to  Paris,  wlio  declared  that  Holland  saw  uo 
escape  from  bankruptcy,  and  requested,  as  a  favor,  to 
be  incorporated  into  the  empire.  "  They  even  prof- 
fered to  let  their  debt  remain  chargeable  upon  them- 
selves and  to  make  every  exertion  to  pay,  provided 
they  were  no  longer  called  upon  to  submit  to  a 
greater  amount  of  taxation  than  the  French.  These 
ambassadors  remained  four  months  in  Paris  and  were 
finally  authorised  to  offer  the  crown  to  Louis.  "  We 
come,"  said  they,  "  of  our  own  accord  and  supported 
by  nine-tenths  of  the  suffrages  of  our  fellow  country- 
men to  entreat  you  to  unite  your  fate  with  ours, 
and  to  raise  a  whole  people  from  the  perils  with 
which  they  are  threatened."  ]!^apoleon  was  com- 
pelled to  command  before  he  could  induce  his  bro- 
ther to  accept  the  crown.  So  much  for  the  destruc- 
tion of  this  ancient  commonwealth,  brought  about  by 
British  avarice  and  not  French  ambition.  But  this 
fusion  of  the  republic  into  that  of  France  did  not 
take  place  till  long  after  the  coalition  I  have  been 
speaking  of.  At  that  time  it  was  independent 'and 
sustained  no  relation  to  France,  except  that  of  an 
ally. 

Although  the  offer  of  this  commonwealth  could  not 
bribe  Prussia  into  the  coalition  formed  by  England 
and  Russia,  the  latter  prou.ised  to  precipitate  secretly 
a  large  army  upon  her  frontier,  under  the  pretence  of 
protecting  her,  which  should,  and  did  prove  a  conclusive 


298  THE    OLD    GDAB5U 

argument.  Austriii,  however,  voluntarily  came  int.i 
it,  and  the  campaign  of  Austerlitz  followed.  For  the 
bloody  battles  that  were  only  preparatory  to  the 
crowning  slaughter  at  Austerlitz,  who  is  responsible  ? 
Not  Napoleon,  not  France,  but  the  coalition.  The 
treaty  of  Presbourg  immediately  succeeded  this  brib 
liant  victor}^  and  Austria  and  France  were  at  peace= 
Russia,  Prussia,  and  England,  however,  maintained 
the  contest,  and  the  campaigns  of  Jena,  Eylau, 
and  Friedland,  followed  —  all  the  sad  results  of 
this  infamous  coalition,  which  Napoleon,  however, 
with  his  terrific  blows  broke  into  a  thousand  frag- 
ments. The  peace  of  Tilsit  again  put  the  conti- 
nental powers  at  peace,  but  England  feeling  safe  in 
her  isolated  position,  still  maintained  her  belligerent 
attitude. 

The  troubles  with  Spain  succeeded  this  interregnum 
of  war.  I  shall  not  attempt  to  defend  this  invasion, 
although  viewed  through  the  medium  of  European 
diplomacy  there  is  much  that  might  be  said  in  pab 
liation  of  Napoleon's  conduct.  His  entrance  into 
Spain  was  welcomed  by  the  intelligent  portion  of  the 
realm  as  calculated  to  put  an  end  to  the  internal 
troubles  and  the  weak  government  under  which  they 
suffered.  Napoleon  was  not  so  much  deceived  hy 
the  representations  made  him,  as  many  suppose, 
Joseph  would  have  been  welcomed  by  the  strength  of 
the  nation,   and    the    partial    resistance  soon  have 


FALSE   KEASONLNU.  290 

co.ised,but  for  the  interference  and  encouragement  of 
England. 

But  granting  all  that  the  bitterest  enemy  may  say 
of  I^apoleon's  conduct  towards  Spain,  which  all  things 
considered,  is  doubtless  very  like  our  treatment  of 
Mexico,  what  shall  we  say  of  the  authors  of  the  cam- 
paigns of  Abensberg,  Landshut,  Eckmuhl,  Aspern, 
and  "Wagram,  and  at  whose  doors  shall  we  lay  the 
guilt  of  covering  Europe  with  mangled  and  bleeding 
hosts  ?  Thus  far  history  is  plain  and  the  testimony  of 
candid  historians,  although  enemies,  harmonise  in  one 
conclusion.  Even  the  uncandid  are  compelled  to 
resort  to  the  ridiculous  assertion  that  the  allies  w^ere 
justified  in  their  course,  because  they  foresaw  clearly 
the  mounting  ambition  of  !N"apoleon.  It  was  neces- 
sary to  check  at  once  this  ambitious  spirit  that  other- 
wise would  ride  over  Europe.  It  is  an  old  proverb, 
"  there  is  no  reasoning  against  prophecy."  It  is 
always  the  resort  of  a  weak  cause.  But  still  unpre- 
judiced men  will  think  that  to  create  a  war  in  order 
to  prevent  one — to  set  Europe  in  a  blaze  to  keep  it 
from  taking  fire,  is  rather  a  novel  mode  of  proceed- 
ing. Besides,  to  punish  a  person  in  advance  because 
he  may  do  wrong,  to  hang  a  man  to  prevent  him  from 
committing  murder,  or  cast  him  into  a  prison  because 
he  shows  a  strong  tendency  to  steal,  would  be  consid- 
ered a  very  singular  mode  of  administrating  law.  It 
this  mode  of  reasoning  can  be  justified,  the  origina. 


300  THE   OLD   GUARD. 

holy  alliance  has  now  a  perfect  right  to  demand  Ko8« 
suth  and  chain  him  to  a  rock  in  the  midst  of  th€ 
ocean,  as  it  did  I^apoleon,  because  his  freedom  en- 
dangers, in  their  oj^inion,  the  peace  of  Europe,  and 
in  case  of  refusal  on  our  part,  to  declare  war  against 
us.  Certainly  if  the  reasoning  is  ever  good  that  Eng- 
land and  Russia,  without  one  foot  of  their  territory 
being  violated,  have  a  right  to  form  a  coalition  against 
an  independent  power  because  they  think  the  "  se- 
curity of  Europe"  requires  it,  they  have  that  right 
now,  and  it  makes  no  difference  whether  it  be  France 
or  America  which  is  to  be  struck. 

Leaving  Spain  with  all  the  obloquy  and  wrong 
attached  to  its  invasion  without  a  word  of  excuse, 
what,  as  I  said  before,  shall  be  said  of  the  new  war 
that  followed  in  Germany.  The  ruddy  fields  of 
Abensberg,  Landshut,  Eckmuhl,  Aspera,  and  Wa- 
gram  covered  with  mangled  men  cry  out  for  ven- 
geance against  some  one.  Who  violated  the  treaty 
of  Presbourg,  Napoleon  or  the  Emperor  of  Austria  1 
The  former  was  in  Spain  with  his  army,  far  removed 
from  any  interference  with  the  German  Empire. 
Wliy  then  did  Austria  arm  herself  and  plunge  Cen- 
tral Europe  again  into  all  the  horrors  of  war  ?  Be- 
cause she  thought  that  Napoleon  was  so  entangled  in 
the  mountains  of  Spain  that  she  could  strike  him  a 
mortal  blow  before  he  could  recover  himself.  I  have 
never  seen,  from   the  most  prejudiced   writer,   any 


AUSTRIAN    PERFIDY.  301 

defence  of  this  violation  of  a  sacred  treaty  on  the 
part  of  Austria.  Kapoleon  was  enraged,  and  stig- 
matized it,  "  A  war  without  an  object^  and  without  a 
pretext.'''^  "  Thrice^  said  he,  "  has  Austria  perjured 
itselfP  Yet  how  few  Americans  in  reading  the 
description  of  the  battles  of  Aspern  and  Wagram 
fail  to  utter  exclamations  of  horror  against  iJTapoleon, 
as  though  on  his  soul  rested  the  blood  of  the  slain, 
whereas  he  was  enraged  beyond  measure  at  the  per 
fidy  of  Austria  which  forced  him  to  recall  his  troops 
from  Spain. 

The  treaty  of  Yienna  followed,  by  which  Austria 
lost  extensive  possessions.  France  gained  territory — ■ 
what  other  indemnification  could  she  receive  for  such 
an  expensive  war,  forced  on  her  in  the  face  of  a 
sacred  treaty,  and  what  other  punishment  could  Na- 
poleon inflict  on  a  perjured  nation,  that  like  an  assas- 
sin, had  endeavored  to  stab  his  empire  in  the  dark  ? 
K^apoleon  is  not  to  blame  for  wrestiipg  territory  from 
Austria  as  a  compensation  for  the  losses  of  war,  but 
for  not  dismembering  her,  dividing  her  three  crowns, 
thus  prostrating  her  independence  and  power  forever. 

I  have  not  time  to  go  into  the  changes  produced  in 
Switzerland  and  Italy,  besides  I  am  not  defending 
Napoleon's  acts,  except  when  the  simple  question  as 
to  the  authors  of  a  war  is  to  be  settled. 

Thus  far  it  is  easy  to  fix  the  guilt  of  nearly  every 
war  that  desolated  Europe  for  so  many  years.     The.y 


303  TIIK    OLD    GUAltp. 

were  brought  about  by  some  or  all  of  the  allied 
powei-s  under  the  pretence  of  guarding  against  dan 
ger  or  to  get  back  territory  which  had  been  ceded  b,y 
treaty. 

The  next  war,  tlie  one  with  Kussia,  grew  out  of  the 
irritation  of  the  latter  at  the  great  accessions  of  terri- 
tory to  the  French  Empire,  and  from  the  fear  that 
Napoleon  would  attempt  to  reinstate  Poland.  Leav- 
ing aside  all  other  ostensible  and  real  motives,  the 
war  would  doubtless  have  been  prevented,  liad  Napo- 
leon consented  to  the  demand  of  Russia,  "  that  the 
hingdom  of  Poland  should  never  he  established^  and 
that  her  name  should  he  effaced  forever  from  every 
pyhlio  and  official  act?''  Tliere  were  other  causes  of 
grievances  on  both  sides,  but  not  enough  to  have  dis- 
turbed the  peace  of  Europe,  could  this  have  been 
guaranteed.  Napoleon  consented  to  "  bind  himself 
to  give  no  encouragement  tending  to  its  re-establish- 
ment," but  he  would  not  go  a  step  farther.  The 
slight  to  the  Emperor  Alexander's  sister  by  abruptly 
breaking  oif  tlie  negotiation  of  marriage,  and  the  swal- 
lowing up  of  the  possessions  of  the  Grand  Duke  of 
Oldenburg,  his  brother-in-law,  were  among  other  in- 
citements to  hostility  ;  but  the  fear  that  this  Colos- 
sus, who  strode  with  such  haughty  footsteps  over 
Europe,  might  yet  lay  his  hand  on  Poland  and  wrest 
from  him  his  ill-gotten  possessions,  was  at  the  bottom 
of  the   warlike   attitude   which    he  assumed.     This 


INVASION    OF    RUSSIA.  303 

fact  which  cannot  be  denied,  shows  that  Napoleon  had 
done  nothing  that  could  sanction  Russia  in  breaking 
that  alliance,  offensive  and  defensive,  formed  at  the 
peace  of  Tilsit.  But  France  needed  but  little  prov  ^ 
cation  to  justify  her  in  assailing  a  power  that  with 
short  intervals  had  so  long  waged  an  unprovoked  war 
against  her.  Kemoved  so  far  from  the  theatre  of  hos- 
tilities, Russia  had  been  able  to  inflict  severe  troubles 
on  France  while  the  latter  could  do  nothing  in  return 
but  crush  her  armies. 

In  short,  Alexander  entered  on  this  war  because  he 
anticipated  encroachments  on  his  possessions,  ob- 
tained some  fifteen  years  before  by  one  of  the  most 
unholy  conquests  recorded  in  the  annals  of  modern 
civilization.  ]N'apoleon  was  not  averse  to  the  war,  for 
ne  also  began  to  look  out  for  the  future,  and  there 
could  be  no  better  time  than  now  when  all  Europe 
marched  under  his  standard,  not  only  to  chastise  Russia 
for  the  injury  she  had  done  France,  but  to  prevent 
her  from  inflicting  it  in  future.  Without  doubt  there 
was  blame  on  both  sides,  but  the  unprejudiced  reader 
of  history  will,  all  things  considered,  have  no  hesi- 
tation in  placing  the  heaviest  proportion  on  Russia. 

But  what  shall  be  said  of  the  desolating  wars  that 
followed  the  disasters  of  the  Russian  campaign? 
Austria  and  Prussia  had  both  entered  into  a  solemn 
treaty  with  Napoleon  and  put  their  troops  under  his 
command  in  the  invasion  of  Russia,  yet  no  sooner 


304  THE    OLD   GUA5J>. 

did  they  behold  liis  army  in  fragments  tlum  w'ith  a 
perfidy  and  meanness  unparalleled  in  the  history  of 
civilized  nations,  they  joined  hands  with  Russia,  and 
rushed  forward  to  strike  with  deadlier  blows  an 
already  prostrate  ally.  It  is  generally  regarded  a 
point  of  honor  among  men  never  to  desert  a  friend 
and  ally  in  distress — and  to  fight  by  the  side  of  a  friend 
one  day  against  a  common  enemy,  and  on  the  next 
turn  and  smite  him  for  no  other  reason  than  because 
bleeding  and  staggering  under  the  discomfiture  he 
has  met  with  he  is  no  longer  able  to  defend  himself, 
is  considered  the  meanest  act  of  an  ignoble  soul  and 
the  last  step  to  which  human  baseness  can  descend. 

I  suppose  it  will  be  unnecessary  for  me  to  attempt 
to  prove  on  whom  rests  the  guilt  of  the  battles  of 
Lutzen,  Bautzen,  Dresden,  Culm,  Gros  Beren,  Katz- 
back,  Dennewitz,  Leipsic,  with  its  awful  slaughter, 
and  Hanau — or  of  those  other  murderous  engagementa 
on  the  soil  of  France — of  the  battles  of  Brienne,  Ro- 
tbiere,  Champaubert,  Montmirail,  Yauchamps,  Mon- 
te re  au,  Craon,  Laon,  and  of  Paris,  unless  it  is  neces 
sary  to  prove  a  monarch  has  a  right  to  defend  his 
crown,  and  a  brave  people  their  own  soil.  Yillany 
for  once,  at  least,  triumphed,  and  perfidy  and  treach- 
ery were  rewarded  with  success.  Prussia  and  Aus 
tria  by  falling  suddenly  on  their  prostrate  ally  suc- 
ceeded in  strangling  him. 

The  coalition  was  successful,  and  Kapoleon  I'obbed 


WATERLOO.  306 

of  his  crown  and  his  empire  was  sent  to  Elba.  It 
was  natural  that  the  monarchs  of  Austria  and  Prus- 
sia, v/hose  thrones,  Kapoleon  when  he  held  them  in 
his  power  had  respected,  should  crown  their  debase- 
ment by  taking  from  him  his.  A  few  montlis  before 
thej  had  sworn  to  defend  liim  against  Kussia,  and  now 
at  her  request  to  strip  him  not  merely  of  his  possessions 
but  of  his  crown,  was  only  doing  as  violators  of  their 
oaths  and  betrayers  of  friends  have  always  done. 

Like  villains  of  a  baser  sort,  however,  they  began 
to  quarrel  over  the  spoils  they  had  obtained.  There 
was  mustering  of  armies  and  all  the  preparations  for 
a  bloody  war,  but  they  at  length  each  retired  with  his 
portion. 

There  is  but  one  more  war  the  guilt  of  which  it  is 
necessary  to  fix  before  the  curtain  drops  on  the  pub- 
lic life  of  Kapoleon,  and  the  Holy  Alliance  has  it  all 
its  own  way  on  the  continent.  The  manner  in  which 
N"apoleon  mounted  his  recovered  throne  was  the  best 
title  to  it  he  could  have  had.  The  heart  of  the  peo- 
ple replaced  him  there,  and  as  his  triumph  had  been 
peaceable,  so  did  he  wish  his  reign  to  be.  'No  one  is 
so  insane  as  to  assert  that  he  desired  the  war  that 
ended  in  the  disasters  of  Waterloo.  War  was  de- 
clared against  him  by  the  infamous  coalition  which 
had  so  often  attempted  his  overthrow.  To  his  oifera 
of  peace  the  allies  returned  no  answer,  for  they  had 
none  to  give.     Ilis  complete  destruction  would  satisfy 


306  THE    OLD   GUARD. 

them,  and  nothing  else.  He  strove  nobly  to  save 
himself,  but  could  not.  The  dead  at  Quatre  Bras, 
Ligny,  and  Waterloo  are  silent  but  awful  witnesses 
against  the  tyranny  that  forced  them  to  struggle  for 
monarchs  who  were  governed  solely  by  ambitious 
views  and  unworthy  jealousies.  The  defence  set  up 
for  the  allies  that  N"apoleon  would  not  long  be 
quiet,  I  have  before  considered.  To  cause  sixty  thou- 
sand men  to  be  slain  in  order  to  prevent  a  nation 
from  declaring  war,  may  do  very  well  at  the  tribunal 
of  European  diplomacy,  but  before  the  "  court  of  high 
heaven,"  it  will  meet  with  a  different  reception.  Be- 
sides Kapoleon  offered  to  form  a  treaty  of  peace,  and 
they  could  not  suppose  he  could  break  it  with  more 
deliberate  faithlessness  than  England  had  violated  the 
treaty  of  Amiens,  or  Austria  that  of  Presbourg,  or 
both  Austria  and  Prussia  their  plighted  word  after 
the  disasters  of  the  Russian  campaign.  IS'either 
could  Russia  believe  he  would  grasp  any  state  with 
more  cruel  ferocity,  and  oppress  it  with  heavier  bur- 
uens  than  she  had  seized  and  loaded  Poland.  England 
it  is  true  might  be  compelled  to  give  up  the  French 
possessions  in  the  West  Indies  which  she  had  seized 
as  a  part  of  her  spoil,  and  the  time  might  arrive  wheh 
Napoleon  would  bring  to  terrible  account  the  faith- 
less allies  who  had  turned  on  him  in  his  misfortunes, 
and  stripped  him  of  his  empire.  All  this  may  be 
very  true,  and  furnish  an  easy  explanation  to  the  war 


SECUKITY    OF    GOVERNMENT.  307 

that  dosed  with  tlie  iiiglit  on  the  field  of  Waterloo, 
but  in  heaven's  name  charge  not  the  terrible  slaugh- 
ter and  suffering  that  accompanied  it  to  Napo'.eon. 
Never  in  a  worse  situation  to  carry  on  hostilities,  he 
would  have  signed  almost  any  treaty  rather  than  have 
risked  his  throne  in  a  premature  struggle.  What  he 
might  have  done  in  the  future,  what  wars  he  might 
have  waged,  and  what  guilt  he  might  have  incurred, 
I  leave  to  prophets  to  determine ;  but  for  the  war 
which  finished  him,  and  the  sufferings  attached  to  it, 
he  is  guiltless. 

In  this  review  I  have  touched  only  on  the  chief 
points  because  I  had  not  space  to  treat  the  matter 
more  fully.  My  motive  has  been  to  show  that  the 
gallant  deeds  of  the  Old  Guard,  which  I  have  re- 
corded, are  not  to  be  classed  with  those  of  Cassar's 
legions.  The  part  ISTapoleon  and  his  Guard  performed 
is  one  of  the  most  important  in  history.  The  hand 
of  lieaven  is  visible  throughout.  They  were  destined 
to  shatter  feudalism  into  a  thousand  fragments,  and 
no  less  power  than  theirs  could  have  done  it.  Where 
would  have  been  civil  freedom  in  Europe,  without 
them — w^here  that  progress  in  the  knowledge  of  the 
people  respecting  their  rights,  which  has  since  shorn 
kings  of  their  pride  and  taught  them  civility  to  their 
subjects  ?  In  struggling  for  the  divine  right  of  kings 
and  the  security  of  monarchies,  the  haughty  and 
unscrupulous   powers   of  Europe  undermined   both. 


308  THE   OLD    GUARD. 

[nstead  of  burying  republicanism  fathoms  deep,  they 
sowed  dragons'  teeth,  the  fruit  of  which  they  are  now 
reaping. 

The  truth  is,  our  prejudices  have  all  been  obtamed 
from  English  papers  and  English  literature.  But  if 
one  wishes  to  know  how  much  these  can  be  relied  on, 
let  him  turn  to  the  same  papers  and  same  authorities, 
and  read  the  accounts  of  the  war  of  1812.  If  we 
believe  the  one  history  we  should  the  other.  It  is 
true,  in  abiding  by  this  fair  rule,  we  would  be  com- 
pelled to  put  ourselves  in  the  same  category  with 
Napoleon,  and  look  upon  our  government  as  alone 
guilty  of  that  war.  By  her  showing,  England  never 
yet  was  wrong.  But  alas,  history  proves  that  although 
she  declaimed  so  loudly  against  Napoleon's  grasping 
spirit,  she  has  since  acquired  more  territory  in  the 
Indies  than  she  ever  charged  him  with  conquering. 
Let  us  beware  how  we  adopt  the  opinions  of  the  ene- 
mies of  republicanism  as  our  own,  and  render  all 
honor  to  the  brave  who  have  borne  a  part  second  only 
to  ourselves  in  the  regeneration  of  all  human  govern- 
ments. 

In  conclusion,  I  would  ask  my  countrymen  to  look 
at  the  conduct  of  Russia  in  the  last  struggle  of  Hun- 
gary for  liberty.  What  sent  the  northern  hordes 
against  that  brave  people  and  laid  their  liberties  and 
their  nationality  in  the  dust  ?  Rest  assured  the  same 
motive  that  sent  her  against  the  French  Republic  aiid 


POLICY    OF    DESPOTISM.  80'J 

afterwards  against  Napoleon.  "What  now  cause*? 
Austria  to  whip  and  imprison  Hungarian  ladies  and 
patriots  and  expel  Americans  from  her  borders  as  if 
thej  were  degraded  criminals  ?  —  the  same  motive 
that  impelled  her  to  break  treaties  and  violate  her 
honor  in  the  effort  to  overthrow  Napoleon,  viz.,  "  the 
security  of  g(yoeTnments^^  "  to  prevent  a  general  earth- 
quake,'''' What  induces  the  king  of  Naples  to  fill  the 
prisons  of  his  kingdom  with  the  noblest  men  in  it  ? 
The  "  security  of  governmentP  "What  places  the 
continent  under  a  general  system  of  espionage  and 
makes  domiciliary  visits  necessary  and  suspected 
persons  criminals  without  testimony? — ''^  security  of 
governments  What  causes  us  to  be  viewed  with  a 
jealous,  suspicious  eye — our  movements  watched — our 
actions  misrepresented,  and  our  institutions  slandered? 
"  the  security  of  government-  What  lies  at  the  bot- 
tom of  the  horrible  oppressions  that  are  weekly 
borne  to  our  ears  from  the  despotisms  of  Europe  ?  The 
same  that  lay  at  the  foundation  of  the  perfidy  and 
falsehood,  and  perjury,  and  perpetual  wars  that  dis- 
crowned Napoleon,  and  for  a  while  hushed  the  cry 
of  freedom,  that  rising  from  revolutionary  France, 
swept  like  a  whirlwind  over  Europe.  Remember 
this  when  you  hear  of  the  "  balance  of  power," 
•*  security  of  government,"  which  are  terms  used 
simply  to  cover  up  the  oppressions,  and  ^barbarity 


310  THE   OLD   GUAlft). 

and  selfishness  that  have  made  the  thrones  of  Centra^ 
Europe  for  so  many  ages  a  curse  to  mankind.  lie- 
member  that  in  siding  with  feudalism  you  condemn 
yourselves. 


tXB  SMD. 


GENERAL  LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA— BERKELEY 

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N0Vl6'954  LU 


2Se'58WJX 

REC^D  LD 

APR  12  1959 

LD  21-lOOm-l, '54(1887816 


LU 


)476 


YB  5820 


